
Book 



THE 



DESPATCHES 

OF 

HEENAIDO'^CORTES, 

u 
THE CONQUEROR OF BIEXICO, 

ADDRESSED TO THE EMPEROR CHARLES V. 

WRITTEN DURING THE CONQUEST, 
AND CONTAINING A NARRATIVE OF ITS EVENTS 



NOW FIRST TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH FROM THE ORIGINAL SPANISH, '/ 

WITH AN .'-~C. 

INTRODUCTION AND NOTES, / 

BY GEORGE FOLSOM, 

ONE OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY, MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN 
ANTIQUARIAN SOCIETY, OF THE ARCHAIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF ATHENS, ifec, &C. 



NEW-YORK: 
WILEY AND PUTNAM, 161 BROADWAY 
LONDON: 
STATIONERS' HALL COURT 

1843. 




;^- "f^j^ 



atered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by Charles J. Foi.som, in the 
Clerk's office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York. 



'\ 



F \ 



WM. OSBORN, PRINTER, 
88 William-street. 



PREFACE. 



This stirring narrative of toil and adventure, addressed by the 
celebrated conqueror of Mexico to his sovereign, although replete 
with the most romantic interest, has hitherto escaped an English 
translator. Written amidst the very scenes described, in a tone of 
honest sincerity, and with a scrupulous attention to the truth, which 
none has ever attempted to gainsay, these Letters or Despatches, after 
being published separately as they were received in Spain, seem to 
have been overlooked and forgotten when in the lapse of time the 
original editions had disappeared from the public eye. Even Antonio 
de Solis, historiographer to his Catholic Majesty, whose classical and 
popular work on the Conquest of Mexico appeared in 1684, confesses 
that he was beholden to an Italian translation for his knowledge-of one 
of them.* Indeed, they seem not to have been republished in Spain 
until 1749, when they were inserted in Barcia's collection of Histo- 
riadores Primilivos, or Early Historians. Afterwards, in 1770, ano- 
ther edition appeared at the city of Mexico, superintended by Arch- 
bishop, since Cardinal Lorenzana, who enriched it with copious notes; 
and this, together with a biographical sketch of Cortes originally writ- 
ten in English by the late R. C. Sands, was re-printed in 1828, at 
New-York, for the Mexican market. The present translation has 
been made from the Archbishop's Mexican edition, many of whose 
notes have been retained, which are marked with the initial of his 
name. 

The First Letter appears not to have been printed ; at least, no trace 
of it has been found, either in print, or manuscript, in Spain, or in 
Germany ; and we are therefore compelled to begin with the Second, 
and to give the previous events in an Introduction. 

* Mr. Rich, of London, in his Catalogue of books relating to America, men-' 
tions a copy of the original edition of the Third Letter of Cortes as being in his 
possession, the price of which is marked at the high price of 101, 10s. or about 
ffty-two Spanish dollars, on account of its very great rarity. 



IV PEEPACE, 

The Second Letter was printed at Seville, in 1522 ; of which a 
Latin translation appeared at Nuremberg in March, 1524 ; this again 
was turned into Italian, and published at Venice in August of the 
same year,* 

The Third Letter was printed at Seville, in 1523 ; translated into 
Latin by the same hand, and published at Nuremberg the following 
year.f 

The Fourth -Letter was printed at Toledo in 1525 ; and together 
with the two former appeared in the third volume of Ramusio's col- 
lection of Voyages and Travels, (in Italian,) at Venice, 1556. This 
was the edition consulted by Solis, as mentioned above. 

A German translation of them was printed at Augsburg, in 1550, 
and another at Heidelberg, in 1779. 

A French translation, by M. Le Vicomte de Flavigny, appeared at 
Paris in 1776. This was made from the edition of Archbishop Lo- 
renzana, as appears from the preface of the noble translator, in which 
he says — " I present to the public a precious morceau of literature 
and history, edited in 1770, with the utmost care, by the present 
Archbishop of Toledo, formerly Archbishop of Mexico. From the 
time of Csesar to the sixteenth century, Cortes is the only great captain 
who has related his own exploits. Although the conqueror of the 
Gauls had the advantage both in regard to the character of his ene- 
mies, and in point of style, Cortes will nevertheless appear worthy of 
his high reputation. His prudence, his courage, his enlarged views, 
his resources, and even his prejudices, and those of the age, which he 
treated with respect, will ever illustrate the period in which he lived, 
and the astonishing revolution effected by his arms. At the same 
time, as long as the simple and frank tone of a modest but undoubted 
hero affords pleasure, so long will these letters be read with delight 
by posterity, and afford instructive lessons to mankind," 

The translation of Flavigny has no other fault than its freedom, or 
in other words, its abridgement of the original ; sometimes almost an 

* A copy of this Italian edition was presented a few years since to the New- 
York Historical Society, by Samuel Ward, Esq. ; it purports to have been made 
from the Latin of " II Dottore Pietro Savorgnano," secretary to the bishop of 
Vienna ; the name of the Italian translator was Nicolo Libumio. 

t A copy of the Latin translation of the second and third Letters by Dr. Sav- 
orgnano, printed at Cologne in 1532, belongs to the Philadelphia Library; for 
the use of which the writer is indebted to the courtesy of the Librarian of that 
institution. 



PRE PACE. 



entire page being condensed int® tliree or four lines. This is shown 
by the following comparison :-'■ 



Flavigny's Translation. 
L'eau douce parvient a Mexico par 
deux tuyaux de deux pieds de circon- 
ference chacun, et qui sent places le 
long de I'une des chaussees, par les- 
quelles on aborde en cette ville ; cette 
aau SB distribue le long des rues dans 
differens canots, pour etre ensuite 
vendue au public. — ^p. 100. 

Re-translation of the French. 
Fresh water is conveyed to Mexico 
by means of two pipes, each two feet 
in circumference, which extend along 
one of the causeways leading to the 
city. This water is carried through 
the streets in canoes and sold to the 
people.— Portfoho, vol. iv. p. 289. 



The original literally translated : 
Along one of the causeways that 
lead into the city are laid two pipes, 
constructed of masonry, each of which 
is two paces in width, and about five 
feet in height. An abundant supply 
of excellent water, forming a volume 
equal in bulk to the human body, is 
conveyed by one of these pipes, and 
distributed about the city, where it is 
used by the inhabitants for drinking 
and other purposes. The other pipe, 
in the mean time, is kept empty until 
the former requires to be cleansed, 
when the water is let into it and con- 
tinues to be used till the cleansing is 
finished. As the water is necessarily 
carried over bridges on account of the 
salt water crossing its route, reser- 
voirs resemjying canals are construct- 
ed on the bridges, through which the 
firesh water is conveyed. These re- 
servoirs are of the breadth of the 
body of an ox, and of the same length 
as the bridges. The whole city is 
thus served with water, which they 
carry in canoes through all the streets 
for sale, taking it firom the aqueduct 
in the following manner : the canoes 
pass under the bridges on which the 
reservoirs are placed, when men sta- 
tioned above fill them with water, for 
which service they are paid. 
See below, pp. 118-9. 

This is a paraphrase rather than a translation, and leaves room for 
a new French version, which it is understood a distinguished author 
at Paris will shortly publish. 



VI PKEFACE. 

In this connexion it is proper that we should notice a translation 
of the Second Letter, made with great fidelity from the French of 
Vicomte Flavigny, and published in the Portfolio, (a well known 
magazine, formerly printed at Philadelphia,) in 1817-18. The editor 
informs his readers that this paper was found amongst the manu- 
scripts of the late Mr, Alsop, of Middletown, Conn., who seems not 
to have been in possession of a copy of the original work. This 
gentleman, besides numerous other contributions to the literature of 
the day, published an excellent translation of the Abbe Molina's His- 
tory of Chili, from the Italian. 

The Vicomte Flavigny states in his preface, that he had n-ot only 
taken no pains to acquire new information respecting the conquest of 
Mexico, but, on the contrary, had endeavored to forget the little 
knowledge he had on that subject ; " for," he adds, " it was not Solis, 
Herrera, Diaz, or Gomara, that I designed to translate, nor did I 
propose to imitate the Abbe Prevost, the Abbe Raynal, or even Rob- 
ertson." We have ventured, however, to adopt a different course, and 
although determined to give a faithful version of the conqueror's own 
language, have at the same time consulted every writer within our 
reach who throws any light on the events of the conquest. Amongst 
these should be distinguished as surpassing all others, being contem- 
porary with Cortes, Bernal Diaz del Castillo and Francisco Lopez de 
Gomara ; the former himself a soldier in the expedition, who resided 
in his old age at the city of Guatemala, where, nearly fifty years after 
the conquest, he composed his history, which was discovered in manu- 
script after his death, and printed for the first time in 1632. This 
work is tinged with the personal prejudices of the writer, but in the 
main deserves great credit for its frank and impartial character. 
Having been early translated into English, it has passed through 
many editions, both in England and America.* 

Gomara, whose Chronicle of New Spain was published a few years 
after the death of Cortes, had been the chaplain of the conqueror, 
and enjoyed the best opportunities for collecting the materials of his 
work. It was well written, and for many years ranked as the ablest 
and most authentic book on the history of New Spain, But the sub- 
sequent appearance of the " True History" of Bernal Diaz, (who 

* Gen. Thompson, the present U. S. Minister at Mexico, is understood to have 
in hand a aew translation of Bernal Diaz, the present one being quite incona- 
plete. 



PREFACE. VU 

charged him with neglecting the achievements of the companions of 
Cortes in order to exalt the merits of their commander,) together 
with the imputations of Herrera, the royal historiographer, and 
finallj^ the publication of the popular volumes of Antonio de Solis, 
threw Gomara into the shade, and caused his labors to be neglected. 
But whoever consults his pages will find them well stored with facts, 
carefully arranged and clearly stated. In short, it is an able and 
substantial work, and possesses as stitjng claims to be deemed impar- 
tial in its tone as any other, not excepting Herrera himself.* 

It would be unpardonable to omit to mention in this connexion the 
admirable modern work of Clavigero, a Jesuit father, who on the abo- 
lition of his order in the Spanish dominions, after passing more than 
forty years of his life in Mexico, took refuge in Italy, where he de- 
voted his leisure to literary pursuits. Being familiar with the native 
language of Mexico, he carefully studied its antiquities and history, 
and composed the best and most authentic book on these subjects 
that had appeared. It was written in the Italian language, and has 
been ably translated into English by Charles CuUen, Esq. 

The Despatches of Cortes were written under circumstances the 
most unfavorable to precision of style, and at a period when the lan- 
guages of modern Europe were far from being what they now are ; 
for these reasons it is not to be disguised, that they have presented 
occasional difficulties in the translation, which, with all our helps, it 
has required a considerable degree of labor to surmount. This at- 
tempt is, therefore, commended to the indulgence of the public, as a 
well-meant effort to contribute to the amusement and edification of 
those English and American readers who have not the leisure or in- 
clination to consult the original. 

New- Yo7% August 1st, 1843. ^ 

* There is an imperfect English translation of Gomara under the title of 
" The Pleasante Historic of the Conquest of the West India" &c., of which two 
editions were published in black letter, viz. 1578 and 1596. Many entire chap- 
ters of the original are, however, omitted, and numerous alterations made ad 
liUtum by the translator. 



CONTENTS 



Introduction 



LETTER IL 



CHAPTER I. Commencement of march to Mexico — Muteczuma — 
conspiracy — stranding of ships — F. de Garay — city of 
1^ • %V %fc.,l)^4>^*'£^™P0^^ — populous valley — wall of Tlascala, - 37 

CHAPTER n. Bmte with the Tlascallans— continued iSghting— inter- 
view between Cortes and the rulers of Tlascala — 
description of the city of Tlascala— government of this 
republic — deputation from Muteczuma — city "of Churul- 
tecal (Cholula) — narrow escape of the army, - - 51 

CHAPTER rV* Treachery of Muteczuma— description of two lofty 
mountains — the Spaniards descry the city and valley 
of Mexico — province of Chalco — envoys of Muteczuma 
— slaves — lakes of Mexico— city of Iztapalapa — gardens 
— causeway — Cortes is met by large numbers of citi- - 
zens, followed by Muteczuma — interview between 
Cortes and Muteczuma — address of the latter — entrance 
into the city — letters from Vera Cruz — treachery of 
Qualpopoca — imprisonment of Muteczuma — execution 
of Qualpopoca and others — exploring parties — lord of 
* Culhuacan — Cacamacin — inquiries for gold, - - 73 

CHAPTER V. Description of the city of Mexico— the lakes — markets — 
aqueduct — temples — palaces — houses — mode of living 
— state assumed by Muteczuma, ... no 

CHAPTER VI. Expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez against Cortes — pro- 
ceedings of Diego Velasquez at Cuba — Cortes leaves 
the city to meet Narvaez — enters Cempoal — battle 
between the forces of Cortes and Narvaez in that city 
— defeat of the latter — detachment sent to buUd a town 
at Guasacalco, ...... 126 

^ * The head of the third chapter was accidentally omitted in the printing. 



X \ CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER VII. Return of Cortes to Mexico— news of rebellion in that 
city — lie enters Mexico — hostilities against the Spa- 
niards^-attacks on their quarters — destruction of parts 
of the city — death of Muteczuma— assault upon the 
great temple — Cortes at the head of a detachment — 
ascends a lofty tower — battle on the terraces of the 
tower or temple — a parley with the enemy — their 
resolution and spirit — the Spaniards abandon the city 
— la noche imte— disastrous retreat — Tacuba — route to 
Tlascala — battle of Oturaba — the army enters the 
territory of Tlascala — met by the nobles — kind recep- 
tion — news from Vera Cruz, - - . . 145 
CHAPTER VIII. Hostilities against Tepeaca— settlement of the town of 
Segura de la Frontera — attack on Mexican garrison 
atGuacachula — description of that city — capture of the 
^k *> *^« tk^^'^ of Izucan — description^f that icity — news from 
^ '<• ^\ f IpMexico^mfflalirg'of'ferigan^iires'fdf the lakes of Mexico 

— successor of Muteczuma — New Spain — note, - 170 



r^^/fzz. 



LETTER III. / 

CHAPTER I, Recapitulation of former letter— F. de Garay— Cortes 
leaves Segura de la Frontera — arrives at city of Tlascal- 
tecal or Tlascala — death of Magiscacin — review of the 
army — address of Cortes to the troops — march for Mexico 
— city of Tesaico (Tezcuco)— deputation from that city 
— expedition to Iztapalapa — circumstances at Tezcuco 
— Sandoval sent for the brigantines — Chalco — trans- 
portation of the brigantines from Tlascala to Tezcuco, 195 

CHAPTER II. Expedition from Tezcuco to Tacuba — engagements with 
the Mexicans— battle between the people of Chalco and 
the Mexicans — succors received from Vera Cruz — expe- 
dition to the mountainous country — city of Suchimilco 
— battle with the Mexicans at that city — city of Cuyoa- 
can — Tacuba— return to Tezcuco— plantations at Chi- 
nantla — letter from that place — launch of the brigantines 
— their removal to the great lake, ... 226 

CHAPTER III. Review of the army — disposition of the troops for the 
siege of Mexico — destruction of the aqueduct— positions 
of the divisions of the array — Cortes embarks inabrig- 
antine — battle between the brigantines and the canoes 
— commencement of operations against Mexico — Don 
Fernando, lord of Tezcuco — amval of the Otomites, - 257 

CHAPTER IV. "Destruction of the palaces— burning of the houses of the 
city — continued hostilities — partial defeat of Alvarado's 
division — attempt to reach the market place — narrow 
escape of Cortes — defeat of the Spaniards — rejoicings 



CON'TENTS. Xl 

of the Mexicans — expedition to Marinalco— gallant ex- 
ploit of a Tlascallan chief, .... 278 

CHAPTER V. Sandoval sent to the aid of the Otomites — Alvarado's 
camp attacked by the Mexicans in the night — obstinacy 
of the Mexicans— successive attacks on the city — Alva- 
rado penetrates to the market place — the divisions of 
Cortes and Alvarado meet at the market-place — descrip- 
tion of the square and temples — a battering engine— the 
Mexicans reduced to great extremities — Cortes seeks 
an interview with Gautimotzin — conferences with the 
Mexican leaders — great havoc amongst the citizens — 
their necessitous condition — capture of Guatimotzin — 
fall of the city — Plan of the city and lakes, - - 330 

CHAPTER VI. Cortes removes his quarters to Cuyoacan — deputation 
from the lord of Mechuacan — expeditions to the South 
Sea — toOaxaca — rebuilding of Mexico — Tecoantepeque 
— the river Panuco — arrival of Cristobal de Tapia to 
supersede Cortes — measures taken in regard to him — 
his departure — exhibition to Guaxaca — treachery and 
punishment of Antonio de Villafana — ascent of the vol- 
cano Popocatepetl — suggestions in respect to the In- 
dians, - ...... 335 



LETTER IV. 



frOe^/^tA 



CHAPTER I. Expedition to Guasacalco — to Mechuacan — Zacatula — Co- w 
liman — revolt of the Panucans — a-rrival of Juan Bono 
de Quejo from Cuba— an emissary of bishop Fonseca 
and Velasquez — consequences of his coming, - - 359 

CHAPTER n. Confederacy against Cortes, composed of Diego Colum- 
bus, &c. — Cortes marches with a force to the Panuco — 
settles the town of Santistevan del Puerto — expedition 
to Impilcingo — arrival of Spaniards from Gautemala — 
Cristobal Dolid sent to Honduras, - - - 371 

CHAPTER lU. Arrival of F. de Garay with a large force at the river 
Panuco— Diego Velasquez concerned with him — 
Cortes resolves to go and meet him — letters from the 
king render it unnecessary — Alvarado sent against 
him — operations on the Panuco — visit of F. de Garay 
to Cortes — projected intermarriage of their children — 
another rebellion in Panuco — execution of the principal 
persons amongst the natives — expedition to Honduras 
— to Guatemala — the Zaputecas — ships built in South 
Sea, 383 



XU CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V, Rebuilding of Mexico — Mexican nobles employed to 
superintend it — erection of a fortress — complaints of 
bishop fonseca — discovery of tin — cannon founded — 
new town settled near Vera Cruz— improvement of the 
route to Mexico, ------ 408 

CHAPTER VI. Expeditions for the discovery of the strait to the South 
Sea — commissioners from Spain — loss of presents sent 
to the emperor — ^a cannon of silver — treachery of 
Cristobal] Dolid in Hondm-as — plans for the religious 
institutions of the country — objections to bishops — erec- 
. tion of churches— the tenths — offensive regulations of 
tradeinCuba— agriculture— ordinances and laws, - 417 



^: J,v,V.^^ 



\ 



[NTRODUCTION. 



The conquest of Mexico by Hernando Cortes, at the head 
of a few hundred Spaniards, forms one of tho-^e romantic epi- 
sodes in history that give color to the saying, that "truth is 
stranger than fiction." Whether we regard the temerity of the 
undertaking, of which a signal example is afforded in the vo- 
luntary destruction of the ships that had conveyed the conque- 
rors to the Mexican coast, for the purpose of cutting off all 
hope of retreat ; or the chivalric spirit with which they met the 
perils that surrounded them at every step of their progress, 
or the brilliant results that finally crowned their exertions, 
this enterprise in point of strange and wonderful adventure, 
and we may add of high military achievement, is wholly with- 
out a parallel in ancient or modern times. Like all conquests 
in war, it was doubtless stained by acts of gross injustice and 
cruelty towards the conquered, for which no substantia] justi- 
fication can be alleged. Some palliation may be sought, how- 
ever, in the spirit of the age, which not only excused but com- 
mended the summary destruction of the enemies of the Chris- 
tian faith wherever they might be found. This spirit formed a 
deep infusion in the character of the Spanish hidalgos who 
were engaged in the discovery of the Indies, (as the NewAVorld 
was then styled,) of which Columbus himself was a memorable 
example ; and the reader of the following despatches from the 
conqueror of Mexico to his sovereign, will be struck by the 
religious feeling every where displayed, which gives to his ex- 
pedition quite as much the air of a crusade against infidel 
pagans, as of an attempt to enlarge the dominions and increase 
the wealth of his Catholic Majesty. The sincerity of Cortes in 
these professions of zeal for the spread of the " true faith," is 

1 



a INTRODUCTION. 

fully attested by the boldness with which he attacked and sub- 
verted the idolatrous practices of the Mexicans, often under 
circumstances of great risk and danger. He never temporized 
with the superstitions of the natives, and the conquest effected 
as complete a revolution in the religious as the civil institutions 
of the country. Every vestige of the ancient idolatry was care- 
fully erased, and the entire population of the country brought, 
nominally at least, into the Christian fold.* Thus carrying the 
emblem of the cross in one hand, and the sword in the other, 
Cortes punished (as he expressed it) with the utmost rigor all 
who refused to recognize him in the double capacity of propa- 
gator of the Catholic faith, and vicegerent of the lawful sove- 
reign of those parts. But it must be admitted that, in general, 
his treatment of the Indians was mild and conciliatory, as 
abundantly appears in the following pages, which are uncon- 
tradicted by contemporaneous accounts of the highest authority. 

The expedition against Mexico was undertaken the year fol- 
lowing the election of Charles V. as emperor of Germany, and 
the third of his reign as king of Spain. It Avas the first auspi- 
cious event of any magnitude in the distinguished career of 
that monarch, who came to the throne under circumstances of 
much embarrassment and difficulty. Although but seventeen 
years of age, his vigorous and enterprising qualities were soon 
developed, and exercised a favorable influence on the spirit of 
discovery in the new world. Under this influence, says De 
Solis, the minds of men became disposed to great undertak- 
ings ; greater ardor was infused into the breasts of the soldiers, 
and those preliminary operations took place that led the way to 
the conquest of New Spain, an event destined by Heaven to 
shed lustre on the commencement of the reign of that august 
monarch.f 

Great disappointment had followed the discovery of the New 
World in the preceding reign of Ferdinand and Isabella. The 

* Peter of Ghent, writing from Mexico in 1529, states that another priest and 
himself had baptized in the province of Mexico more than 200,000 persons ; 
and often eight, and sometimes even ten or fourteen, thousand in a day. Ter- 
naux. Voyages, etc. 

t * * * " Nueva Espana, cuyo imperio tenia el cielo destinado para engran- 
decer los principios dc este augusto Monarca." Conquista de Mejico. Cap. V. 



INTRODUCTION. 3 

pursuit of Avealth, which was the grand stimulus td enterprise 
in that day as well as the present, had not been attended with 
the promised success, and instead of countries abounding in 
the precious metals, and producing the drugs and spices of the 
east, a few comparatively unimportant islands and a barren 
coast were all that had yet rewarded the toils of the adven- 
turers. The proceeds of the voyages had been scarcely adequate 
to meet the expenses of their outfits. The hopes of Columbus, 
it is well known, were centered in the idea that his discoveries 
constituted a pait of the Indies, then the fancied seat of un- 
bounded riches, and his last voyage was undertaken for the 
single purpose of seeking along the coast of the Caribbean 
sea the strait which he imagined fomted the communica- 
tion between them. It is a curious fact, that he took with him 
two or three persons skilled in the Arabic language to serve as 
interpreters in the Mahometan countries, which he then expect- 
ed to reach. In the course of this voyage, performed in the 
years 1502-4, the veteran navigator examined the coast of Cen- 
tral America from the Bay of Honduras to the Spanish Main ; 
and although on the borders of cotmtries far richer in the pre- 
cious metals than those he sought, of which several striking 
indications were presented to him-, all was lost sight of in the 
vain pursuit of the desii'ed strait. 

It was during the early part of this disastrbus voyage, that 
the first glimpses were obtained of the superior civilization and 
wealth of Mexico. Leaving the island of St. Domingo for the 
south-west, Columbus was borne by the currents out of his 
course, and fell in with a group of islands near Cape Honduras 
on the upper coast of Guatemala. While examining the 
largest of these islands, a party from the squadron discovered a 
canoe of unusual size apparently ari'iving from some distant 
point, which was immediately captured and taken along side 
the Admiral's ship. It is described by Fernando Columbus, 
the Admiral's son, who accompanied the expedition, as " eight 
feet wide and as long as a galley, though formed of the trunk 
of a single tree, and shaped like those common in the islands. 
In the middle of the canoe there was an awning made of palm 
leaves, not unlike those of the Venitian gondolas, which formed 



4 INTRODUCTION. 

SO close a coverfng as to protect whatever it contained against 
the effects of rain and the waves ; under this awning were the 
women and children, and all the goods and merchandise. The 
canoe was under the direction of twenty-five men. * * * 
The Admiral gave thanks to God for having afforded him sam- 
ples of the commodities of those countries without exposing 
his men to toil or danger* He ordered such things to be taken 
as seemed the most valuable, amongst which were cotton coverlets 
and tunics without sleeves, curiously worked and dyed of va- 
rious colours ; coverings for the loins of similar material ; 
large mantles, in which the female Indians wrapped themselves 
like the Moorish women of Granada ; long wooden swords with 
channels on each side of the blade, edged with sharp flints that 
cut the naked body as well as steel ; copper hatchets for cutting 
wood, similar in form to the stone hatchets of other Indians ; 
bells of the same metal, and crucibles in which to melt it. For 
provisions they had such roots and grains as the natives of 
Hispaniola eat ; a sort of wine made of maize, resembling 
English beer ; great quantities of almonds, of the kind used 
by the people of New Spain for money," &c,* The Spaniards 
were also struck with the personal modesty of these Indians, 
in which they greatly excelled the natives of the islands. The 
Admiral restored their canoe, and gave them some European 
articles in exchange for those he had taken. He then allowed 
them all to depart except one old man, who seemed to possess 
greater authority than the rest, and to be the most intelligent 
person amongst them ; from him Columbus endeavored to ob- 
tain some information about the country, and finding that he 
understood the language spoken by the natives along the coast 
of Honduras as far as the Cape Gracias 4 Dios, he made 
use of him in his endeavors to hold intercourse and traffic 



* The roots referred to were probably the mandioc, from which the cassava 
bread is made, and the yam or igname. A beverage composed of maize, water 
and sugar, is still common amongst the native Mexicans, under the name oiatole. 
The fruit described under the name of " almonds," was the cacao bean, which 
closely resembles the almond in size and shape, and was used by the Mexi- 
cans for money, as well as for making chocolate. 



IN TROD UCTION . 5 

with them. On arrivmg at that Cape, he dismissed him with 
presents. 

To this account Don Fernando adds, that •' although the 
Admiral had heard so much from these Indians concerning the 
great wealth, politeness and ingenuity of the people in the 
western parts of (what was afterwards called) New Spain, yet 
considering that, as these countries lay to leewards, he could 
sail thither whenever he might think fit from Cuba, he deter- 
mined to leave them for another occasion, and persisted in his 
design of endeavoring to discover the strait across the continent, 
by which he might open the navigation of the south sea in 
order to arrive at the spice countries."* It is well remarked by 
Mr. Irving, that it would have been fortunate for the venerable 
navigator had he come to a different deteraiination. " Within 
a day or two," says that brilliant writer, " he would have ar- 
rived at Yucatan ; the discovery of Mexico and the other opu- 
lent countries of New Spain, woidd have necessarily followed ; 
the southern ocean would have been disclosed to him, and a 
succession of splendid discoveries would have shed fresh glory 
on his declining age, instead of its sinking amidst gloom, 
neglect, and disappointment." 

Two distinguished navigators endeavored to make amends 
for this omission of the Admiral, and in 1506, two years after 
his return from that voyage, undertook to follow in his track as 
far as Cape Honduras, with the intention of steering from that 
point to the shores of the rich and unknown countries described 
by the Indians as lying to the west. These were Juan Diaz 
de Solis, afterwards the discoverer of the Rio La Plata, and 
Vicente Yanez de Pinzon, who commanded a ship in the first 
expedition of Columbus to the new world. They succeeded in 
reaching Cape Honduras, by the aid of one of the Admiral's 
men who acted as their pilot ; but on taking a westerly course 
soon found themselves in the bottom of a great bay, now known 
as the Bay of Honduras, with no indications of the rich coun- 

*We have preferred to take the above account literally from the Spanish 
edition of Don Fernando's biography of his father, as more satisfactory than the 
embellished narratives of succeeding writers, who are indebted to that source for 
the (acts. 



6 INTRODUCTION. 

tries of which they were in pursuit ; returning thence they dis- 
covered the east side of the peninsula of Yucatan, but without 
exploring the coast, or ascertaining the character of the inhab- 
itants. The discovery of Yucatan must, however, be ascribed 
to these bold navigators, although unsuccessful in the great 
object of their voyage.* 

No account is found of any subsequent voyages in the same 
direction until the year 1517, when an expedition for discovery 
was fitted out from the island of Cuba, under the command of 
Francisco Hernandez de Cordova, consisting of three small 
vessels, carrying 110 men, who were enlisted amongst the Spa- 
nish adventurers in the islands. Antonio Alaminos, who had 
accompanied Columbus in his last voyage, acted as chief pilot. 
Taking a westerly course, after some days they arrived on the 
eastern coast of Yucatan, and gave the name of Catoche to a 
point of land, which it still bears.f Here they discovered a 
large town, and were visited by the inhabitants, who invited 
them on shore ; but the appearance of kindness proved to be 
insincere, for they were attacked by an armed force, with which 
they had a sharp engagement. The enemy were at length de- 
feated with considerable loss, and on the part of the Spaniards 
several were wounded. The natives were armed with wooden 
swords having edges of flint, darts, bows and arrows, and wore 
plumes of feathers, a defensive armor of quilted cotton, and 
bucklers. Near the place where the encounter happened, there 
were three buildings constructed of stone and lime, containing 
idols of clay and various articles formed of alloyed gold, 
" which," says Bernal Diaz, " gave us a high idea of the 

* Herrera has a short account of this voyage under the year assigned to it 
above ; but even this short account is abridged one half by the English transla- 
tor. Historia General, etc. Dec. I. 1. vi. c. 17. Holmes confounds this voyage 
with that in which Solis discovered the La Plata, ten years later. American 
Annals. A. D. 1516. Fernando Columbus complains that Solis and Pinzon 
pretended to be the first discoverers of the coast of Honduras, with manifest in- 
justice to the Admiral, claiming that he had visited another part of the continent, 
in consequence of which the same places were twice laid down in the charts. 
He refers their voyage to the year 1508. Historia del Almirante. cap. 89. 

t It seems, however, that there is some doubt as to the precise locality of 
Cape Catoche ; there being several points of land on that coast which claim the 
distinction. See Stephens's Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, II. p. 356. 



INTRODUCTIOTSr. 7 

country we had discovered." No similar edifices had been 
previously seen in the new world, nor equal marks of civih- 
zation in other respects. Keeping in sight of the coast, the 
expedition continued its course to the north-west, until they 
arrived at Campeachy, where they were hospitably received by 
the natives, although finally admonished that they must leave 
the country. Here they saw also temples of stone with idols, 
and persons habited in long white mantles, with vessels in theu* 
hands containing burning coals, into which they cast a species of 
gum and thus perfumed the Spaniards, at the same time bidding 
them depart the country. A few leagues farther west they en- 
tered the river Champoton, on which was situated a large vil- 
lage called Potonchan, containing houses of stone and lime, 
and surrounded by fields of maize. Here they landed for the 
purpose of taking in water and cultivating the acquaintance of 
the people ; but whilst engaged in filling their casks from a 
spring, they were attacked by a large body of the natives, and 
compelled to retreat to their boats with a heavy loss, forty-seven 
of their number being killed, and all the rest but one wounded; 
two men were taken prisoners, and five more died of their 
wounds on board of the ships. By the advice of the pilot the 
expedition now stood over for Florida, where they arrived in 
four days ; here they landed near a creek, and took in water ; 
but Alaminos, who had visited the place before in company 
with Juan Ponce de Leon,* cautioned his companions to be on 
their guard against the natives, who soon made their appear- 
ance and drove them with some loss to their ships. They now 
returned to Cuba, where Cordova died in a few days from the 
effects of his wounds. 

When the governor of Cuba, Diego Velasquez, saw the orna- 
ments of gold and other articles taken from the temples of 
Yucatan, and two young men in the costume of the country, all 
indicating greater wealth and cultivation than had been observed 
in any other part of the new world, his expectations were high- 
ly excited, and notwithstanding the disasters that had attended 
Cordova, another expedition was at once set on foot. The 
feme of the discovery soon spread abroad, with exaggerated 

* The famous adventurer who discovered Florida in 1512. 



8 INTRODUCTION. 

accounts of the riches of the country, and little difficulty was 
experienced in enlisting a sufficient force for protection against 
the Indians. The armament consisted of four ships, command- 
ed respectively by Juan de Grijalva, (in chief,) Pedro de Al- 
varado, Francisco de Montejo, and Alonzo de Avila, all persons 
of note, and possessed of estates in the islands. Alaminos 
again acted as chief pilot, and about two hundred and forty 
volunteers joined the expedition, which sailed from St. Jago de 
Cuba, on the eighth of April, 1518. It is not our intention to 
attempt a description of this enterprise ; it is sufficient for 
our purpose to state that after discovering the island of Cozu- 
mel, (which he named Santa Cruz,) on the southern coast of 
Yucatan, Grijalva followed in the track of Cordova, landed at 
Potonchan, where he routed the Indians in a pitched battle, re- 
embai'ked and pursued his way along the coast, near enough to 
see and admire the villages, in which could be distinguished 
houses of stone, that appeared white and lofty in the distance ; 
recalling to the minds of the Spaniards their native land, to 
which they fancied the country bore a striking resemblance, and 
inducing them to name it New Spain. Touching at Tabasco, 
Guaxaca, and the island of S. Juan de Ulua, they proceeded 
along the coast as far as the river Panuco, where the present 
town of Tampico is situated. From S. Juan de Ulua, Grijal- 
va despatched Alvarado to Cuba, with an account of his im- 
portant discoveries, and all the treasure he had acquired. Soon 
after the rest of the expedition also returned, and arrived 
safely at St. Jago de Cuba, having been absent about six 
months. 

This, says a distinguished modern historian,* was the most 
successful voyage which the Spaniards had hitherto made in 
the New World. They had discovered that Yucatan was not 

* Robertson. Hist. Am. Bernal Diaz accompanied this expedition, and has 
given an interesting account of it. The chaplain Juan Diaz, who afterwards 
attended Cortes, wrote a brief " Itinerary" of the voyage, published in 1522, 
which has been recently disinterred and inserted in the valuable collection of 
M. Ternaux. Gomara gives a curious list of the articles obtained from the In- 
dians, and of the merchandise exchanged for them. Amongst the former were 
idols, cups, saltcellars, ear-rings, necklaces, chains, &c., all of gold ; forty 
hatchets of gold mixed with copper, razors of flint-.stone, used in sacrifice, chiefly 
obtained at Tabasco. 



INTRODUCTION. 9 

an island as they had supposed, but part of the great continent 
of America. From Potonchan they had pursued their course 
for many hundred miles along a coast previously unexplored, the 
country appearing to be no less valuable than extensive. As 
soon as Alvarado arrived with the important intelligence, Velas- 
quez at once despatched his chaplain to Spain, to obtain the 
requisite authority for conquering and settling the newly dis- 
covered lands. Before the return of this messenger the governor 
took immediate steps for equipping a powerful armament, ade- 
quate to the great objects he had in view. Dissatisfied with 
Grijalva for not having effected a settlement, Velasquez deter- 
mined to appoint another person commander of the present ex- 
pedition, who should more successfully carry out his own plans. 
This intentional act of injustice towards one who had just 
given such decided proofs of his prudence and efficiency in 
command, led to a retribution in the sequel as severe as it was 
justly merited. 

The choice of Velasquez finally settled upon his brother-in- 
law Hernando Cortes, as the commander of the new ex- 
pedition. Beside the connection that subsisted between them 
by marriage, there were other circumstances that led to this 
decision, to which we shall hereafter advert. Cortes was born 
at Medellin, a small town in the south-west of Spain, in the 
year 14S5, and was consequently at the time of his appoint- 
ment thirty-four years of age, nearly fifteen of which he had 
passed in the New "World. According to Gomara, his parents 
were persons of respectable and even noble connexions in old 
Spain, and were generally esteemed for their piety and virtue, 
although reduced in fortune. His father, whose name was 
Martin Cortes de Monroy, had served when young in the wars 
of the peninsula as lieutenant of a company of horse, and such 
was his standing at the time of his son's first success in Mexico, 
that his personal influence with the court was usefully em- 
ployed in his behalf to counteract the malevolence of his 
enemies. Cortes in his childhood was of feeble health, and 
often seemed at the point of death. He early adopted, says 
Gomara, who was afterwards his chaplain, the glorious apostle 
of Jesus Christ, St. Peter, as his patron saint, whose annual 

2 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

festival he was always careful to observe. At fourteen years 
of age, he was sent by his parents to study at Salamanca, 
where he resided with Francisco Nunez de Valera, who had 
married his father's sister. Here he commenced a regular 
course of academic education, it being the intention of his 
parents that he should not leave the university until prepared 
to graduate as bachelor of laws, as they designed him, says 
Gomara, on account of his talents and universal genius, for 
that rich and honorable profession. But Cortes was destined 
in this instance to disappoint their hopes ; weary of study, and 
imbibing a taste for more active pursuits, he returned to his 
father's house after an absence of two years, much to the grief 
of his friends.* At that period war was the most honorable 
pursuit in which a man could engage, and the adventurous life 
to which it led had peculiar charms for a youth of the bold and 
impetuous temper of young Cortes. The principal theatre of 
martial exploits in Europe at that time was Naples, where the 
Great Captain, Gonsalvo de Cordova, Avas conducting the 
Spanish arms ; and Cortes only hesitated between joining his 
countrymen in that quarter, and embarking for the new world 
in the retinue of his kinsman, Nicholas de Ovando, who had 
been just appointed to succeed Columbus in the government of 
the Indies. He finally decided upon the latter ; but accident- 
ally falling from a wall on which he stood in the act of sei-ena- 
ding or otherwise paying his devoirs to some fair one, he was 
laid up by the injury he received until after the departure of 
Ovando. He then turned his attention again to Italy ; but 
after wasting a year in fruitless endeavors to place himself in 
the road to military fame, he once more changed his determina- 
tion and resolved to embark for the new world. 

Receiving a small outfit from his parents, Cortes took passage 
at St. Lucar, in the year 1504, in a merchant ship bound to the 
island of St. Domingo, where he safely arrived, and was kindly 
received by his kinsman Ovando, the governor. After some 

* Gomara, in describing the early education of Cortes, says that he spent two 
years at Salamanca in studying grammar ('■'■ aprendiendo gramatica") ; but 
under the term "gramatica" was implied a course of study in Latin and Greek, 
as well as rhetoric, which it required three years to complete. See Plan de 
^studios de la Universidad de Salamanca. Madrid, 1772. 



* 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

service in the wars against the natives of the island, he finally 
settled in a new town, called Azua, being appointed public no- 
tary, and receiving from the governor lands and Indians for his 
support. Here he continued to reside for five or six years, em- 
ploying himself in the improvement of his plantation ; but 
when an expedition was fitted out for the conquest of the island 
of Cuba, in 1511, under Diego Velasquez, Cortes Avas induced 
to embark in it in the capacity of secretary to the king's trea- 
surer, whose duty it was to keep an account of the fifths and 
other revenues of the crown. On the reduction of the island, 
which was efifected with scarcely any opposition on the part of 
the natives, he settled at St. Jago de Baracoa, the first town 
founded by the Spanish colonists in Cuba, where he again de- 
voted himself to the cultivation of the soil, and had alloted to 
him the distribution of the Indians of a certain district among 
the colonists in conjunction with Juan Juarez, a brother in law 
of the governor Velasquez. Cortes was the first to stock his 
plantation with cattle, and took great pains in the raising of 
horses, cows, and sheep. He employed his Indians in collect- 
ing gold, which was found in mountainous districts, the beds 
of rivers, and small streams, often in considerable quantities. He 
also formed a connexion in trade with Andres de Duero, a 
merchant, and by these various means succeeded in accumula- 
ting a handsome estate. The governor having at this time de- 
termined to erect a sraelting-house for the precious metals, and 
a public hospital, the superintendence of those buildings was 
given to Cortes, who was otherwise much employed in public 
business. 

VV^hen Don Diego Columbus, son of the Admiral, succeeded 
Ovando in the government of the Indies, in the year 1509, he 
was accompanied on his voyage to St. Domingo by his Vice- 
Queen, Dona Maria de Toledo, niece of the Duke of Alva,, 
whom he had then recently married. They were attended by 
a retinue of hidalgos with their families, including many young 
ladies of rank.* Amongst these were the mother and three or 

*Goniara is a little ungallant, when he says that they came in pursuit of rich 
husbands : " con pensamiento de casarse alia con homires ricos" Cron. Chap. IV,- 
Irving is not less so : Columbus, II. 216, 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

four sisters of Juan Juarez, (already mentioned as associated 
with Cortes in the distribution of the Indians,) who came from 
Granada in old Spain. Diego Velasquez married one of these 
sisters, all of whom after the conquest of Cuba had removed to this 
island, of which he became the' governor. Being remarkable for 
their beauty, these young Spanish ladies were much admired 
by their countrymen on the island ; one of them named Catalina 
(or Catherine) attracted the regard of Cortes, who finally mar- 
ried her ; and on account of the excellence of her character 
he was accustomed to say, that he prized her as highly as if she 
had been the daughter of a duke.* Prior to this marriage, a 
serious difficulty arose between Cortes and the governor. A 
number of the colonists had resolved to prefer some complaints 
against the latter to the viceroy, of which Cortes was chosen to 
be the bearer ; and when about embarking in a canoe for the 
island of St. Domingo^ on this mission, he was seized and 
thrown into prison by the orders of the governor. He was, 
however, subsequently pardoned by Velasquez, who even stood 
god-father to his daughter after his marriage. 

Such are some of the circumstances that are related of Cortes 
before his engaging in the great enterprise that has immortal- 
ized his name. They go to show that he had established a good 
reputation for industry and talents amongst his fellow colonists, 
although, as remarked by Herrera, he did not appear to be 
possessed of so great intelligence and capacity as he afterwards 
displayed in affairs of superior moment. Disappointed in his 
expectation of finding great wealth at his command as soon as 
he should arrive in the New World,t he had quietly set himself 
down on a plantation, and applied to the cultivation of the 
soil, as the surest means of advancing his fortune. With 
the exception of occasional forrays amongst the hostile Indians 
of Hispaniola or Cuba, Cortes appears to have been wholly 
engrossed with these pursuits, and to have had little experience 
in military life before he embarked in his great enterprise. The 
wonderful tact and ability exhibited by him throughout the try- 

* Dona Catalina remained at St. Jago until after the conquest, when she went 
to Mexico, and was received by Cortes with great distinction. She died at Mexico 
two or three years after. 

t Gom. Cron. c. 3. 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

ing scenes of the conquest are on this account the more re- 
markable, and prove that nature had endowed him with ex- 
traordinaiy resources of mind, which only required a suitable 
occasion to be brought fully into exercise. Such an occasion 
had at length arrived. 

The circumstances attending the outfit of the expedition to 
the newly discovered lands, and the appointment of Cortes to 
its command, are somewhat differently stated by the early 
historians ; and subsequent writers have generally followed those 
least favorable to the conqueror.* In the following brief ac- 
count it is proposed to rely chiefly upon the statements of Go- 
mara, whose impartiality is at least equal to that of his con- 
temporaries, and his means of information probably far 
superior. The weak and irresolute conduct of the governor 
of Cuba, Diego de Velasquez, in regard to this expedition, is, 
indeed, generally admitted, as well as the superior address and 
skilful management of its commander; but the impression is 
left, notwithstanding, that the former was unwarrantably depriv- 
ed of the fruits of an enterprise projected and fitted out by 
himself. The little ground for sustaining a charge so dis- 
honorable seems to be amply shown by the manner in which 
the enterprise was set on foot, and the discreditable eiforts made 
by Velasquez to deprive Cortes of the command, and failing 
in tbese, to cut off its supplies and prevent its departure. Not 
content with these iueftectual attempts to frustrate the under- 
taking, it will be seen in one of the following despatches, that 
after Cortes had gained possession of the city of Mexico, 
Velasquez sent a powerful force against him under the com- 
mand of Panfilo de Narvaez, a distinguished cavalier, and 
although this, like all his previous endeavors to check the career 
of the conqueror, proved abortive, it led to the temporary loss 
of the great city, and entailed a series of cruel disasters on the 
little band of heroes who had followed their undaunted leader 
into the heart of the Mexican empire. 

* Las Casas and Bernal Diaz are particularly referred to, the former of whom 
wrote a general history of the Indies, still unpublished, which formed the 
main authority of Herrera. Las Casas, though a good man, was a prejudiced 
writer ; and the same may be said of the old soldier who wrote his history to do 
justice to his companions in arms, excepting only his commander. 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

The return of Pedro de Alvarado, with ocular proofs of the 
riches of the country discovered by Grijalva, led the governor, 
as already mentioned, to plan another expedition, to be pro- 
vided vrith men and arms for the reduction of the natives, and 
an assortment of cheap merchandise for traffic. He first ap- 
plied to his relative Baltazar Bermudez to take the command, 
but as this person required an outfit of three thousand ducats 
for arming and victualling the ships, Velasquez objected to so 
large a sum, saying that the expenses vs^ould in that way exceed 
the profits of the enterprise. The truth was, says Gomara, he 
had a penurious disposition, and sought to have the benefit that 
would result from such an expedition without taking his share 
of the cost of fitting it out. He had pursued the same course 
with that of Grijalva, in which one ship had been provided by 
Francisco de Montejo, and several other cavaliers, amongst 
whom were Alonso Hernandez Portocarrero, Alonso de Avila, 
and Diego de Ordas, had embarked at their own charge. Ber- 
mudez thus declining the proffered command, the governor 
spoke to Cortes on the subject, proposing to share equally with 
him the expenses of the armament, as they were already joint 
partners with Andres de Duero, a merchant, in whose business 
they had together invested a considerable sum of money. At 
the same time, knowing his diligence, discretion, and energy of 
character, he desired Cortes to take command of the ships, and 
superintend the affairs of the voyage, it being in some respects 
a mercantile adventure. Not supposing that the enterprise 
would involve a large expenditure of money, and being ambi- 
tious of distinction, Cortes consented to the proposed partner- 
ship and accepted the command of the expedition ; after which, 
having concluded upon the terms of their agreement, they des- 
patched one of the companions of Alvarado to the island of 
Hispaniola, to obtain from the royal audience a license to 
traffic. The audience consisted of ecclesiastics, friars of the 
order of St. Jerome, named Luis de Figueroa, Alonso de Santo 
Domingo, and Bernaldino de Manzanedo, who exercised the 
supreme control in the absence of Diego Columbus, the gov- 
ernor, then in Spain. A license was granted by them recogniz- 
ing Hernando Cortes as commandei-, and jointly concerned 



INTRODUCTION. 15 

with Diego Velasquez in the outfit of the expedition ; also 
requiring it to be attended by a treasurer and surveyor on the 
part of the crown, to look, after the king's fifths, as was usual. 

As soon as the license was received, Cortes set about pre- 
paring for the voyage. No sooner had he made known his 
commission than great numbers began to flock to his standard ; 
he then purchased a caravel and brigantine, beside the caravel 
in which Pedro de Alvarado had returned from Grijalva's ex- 
pedition ; Diego Velasquez furnished only a single brigantine. 
Cortes also procured small arms, artillery, and munitions of war, 
together with wine, oil, and other provisions. He expended 
seven hundred pesos of gold in the purchase of cheap articles 
for barter with the natives. Velasquez gave him a thousand 
pesos belonging to Panfilo de Narvaez, which he had in his 
hands, during the absence of the latter, declaring at the same 
time that he had not a penny left of his own. The agreement 
was finally executed between them in the presence of a public 
notary on the twenty-third day of October, in the year 1518. 

In the mean time Grijalva himself arrived, contrary to the 
expectations of the governor, who had given him up for lost. 
Various causes now induced Velasquez to withdraw from his 
engagement with Cortes, and to render him unwilling to furnish 
money towards his enterprise ; amongst others, he wished to 
send back the ships of Grijalva on his own account alone ; 
and seeing the lavish manner in which Cortes expended money, 
he imagined that he intended to set up for himself; especial- 
ly as he was taught by Bermudez and others to distrust him, 
as a subtle, proud and aspiring Estremaduran, who would not 
be likely to forget past griefs. Bermudez had begun to regret 
having himself declined the command, since Grijalva had 
returned in safety, bringing with him many striking proofs of 
the richness of the new countries. Supposing that Cortes 
would abandon the enterprise on his withdrawal, Velasquez 
sent to him the royal treasurer, Anador de Lares, to pursuade 
him to relinquish the design, promising to repay him all that he 
had expended. Cortes understanding the object of Velasquez, 
told Lares that he would be ashamed to relinquish the enter- 
prise, nor would he give up the agreement ; that if the gover- 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

nor wished to send some one else at his own individual charge, 
he might do it; but as for himself, he had the license of the 
royal audience and intended to improve it. He then repaired 
to his friends and the principal persons who intended to em- 
bark with him, to see if after the refusal of Velasquez he could 
still rely upon them ; and when he found their confidence un- 
shaken, he continued his preparations, borrowing money for 
the purpose, to the amount of 4000 pesos of gold from Andres 
de Duero, Pedro de Xerez, Antonio de Santa Clara, mer- 
chants in Cuba, and others. With the means thus furnished, 
he purchased two ships, six horses, and much clothing ; he 
also kept open doors, and appeared in public fully armed and 
attended by a numerous retinue. Velasquez was evidently 
piqued on seeing the vigorous measures taken by Cortes in 
equipping his expedition, and his success in drawing men into 
his service, amongst whom were many of those who had returned 
with Grijalva ; but he was unable to check him, for if he had un- 
dertaken to disturb his arrangements, it would have led to a 
commotion in the city, and perhaps to bloodshed ; he therefore 
dissembled his feelings. In the mean time, Cortes hastened his 
departure ; he proclaimed that he went on his own account 
alone, and told the soldiers that they had nothing to do with 
Diego Velasquez ; he also bade them lay in their own pro- 
visions to the extent of their means. Having taken on board 
a lot of hogs and sheep, for which he gave the owner a chain 
of gold in payment, he set sail from Saint Jago on the 18th 
of November, with about 300 Spaniards in six ships. 

The expedition was but poorly supplied with provisions for 
so many men, and Cortes found it necessary immediately after 
quitting St. Jago, (which he left somewhat hastily on account 
of the temper of the governor,) to despatch a caravel to 
Jamaica to procure a further supply, with orders to rejoin the 
fleet at Cape Corrientes, or Point St. Antonio, which is the 
northern extremity of Cuba. In the mean time, the rest of the 
ships sailed to Macaca, on the southern coast of the island, 
where Cortes purchased three hundred cargas of bread* and 

* A carga or load was 50 lbs., being the amount of burthen assigned to an 
IxuHan. A mule load was of course more. 



INTRODUCTION* I7 

some swine. He sailed from that port to Trinidad, where he 
bought another ship, three horses, and a thousand bushels of 
corn. While at this place he received information of the pass- 
ing of a ship laden with provisions for the mines, and despatch- 
ed a caravel well armed under the command of Diego de 
Ordas, with orders to intercept the ship and carry her to Point 
St. Antonio. Ordas succeeded in overtaking the vessel in the 
channel of the Gardens, and took her to the place appoint- 
ed, but the master, whose name was Juan Nuiiez Sedeiio, 
went to Trinidad with the register or manifest of his cargo, 
which consisted of 4000 arrobas of bread,* 1500 hams, and a 
large number of fovrls. For these Coites paid him in part, and 
gave his note for the balance ; when Sedeno joined the expe- 
dition. At Trinidad about two hundred men were enlisted, 
most of whom had accompanied Grijalva, and belonged to 
that place, Matanzas, Carenas, and other settlements on the 
island. Sending forward the ships, Cortes himself with some 
of the men proceeded by land across the island to the Havana, 
where out of respect to the governor the inhabitants would 
sell him no provisions ; but two functionaries of the church, 
one of whom was the collecter of tithes for the bishop, and 
the other receiver of the Pope's bulls, supplied him with 
two thousand hams and as many more cargas of maize, cassava 
and yams. Thus the fleet was comfortably provided with 
stores, and Cortes began to distribute the men and provisions 
amongst the different ships. 

At this port, Cortes was joined by Pedro de Alvarado, Cris- 
tobal de Olid, Alonso de Avila, Francisco de Montejo, and 
others of Grijalva's expedition, who arrived in a caravel, having 
been on a visit to Diego Velasquez. Amongst these came one 
Garnica, with letters from Velasquez to Cortes, desiring him to 
wait until he could come or send to him on matters of import- 
ance to both of them ; at the same time, he wrote 'to Diego Ordas 
and others, requesting them to arrest him. Ordas accordingly 
invited Cortes to an entertainment on board of his caravel, think- 
ing to take him to St. Jago ; but Cortes understanding the design, 
pretended to have a sickness at his stomach, and declined the 

* An arroba is 25 lbs. 

3 



18 INTRODUCTION. 

invitation. In order, however, to prevent any trouble from 
arising, he went on board his own ship, and made the usual 
signal for the rest of the fleet to get under weigh, with orders 
to sail for St. Antonio, where all soon arrived in good condition. 
Here he reviewed his troops, and found they numbered five 
hundred and fifty Spaniards, of whom fifty were mariners. 
He then distributed them into eleven companies of fifty each, 
and appointed the following captains to command them, viz. 
Alonso de Avila, Alonso Fernandez Puertocarrero, James de 
Ordas, Francisco de Montejo, Francisco de Morla, Francisco 
de Salzedo, Juan de Escalante, Juan Velasquez de Leon, 
Cristobal de Olid, and Pedro de Alvarado. Cortes himself 
took the command of one company. Each captain had also 
command of one of the ships, which were eleven in number. 
Antonio de Alaminos was appointed chief pilot, having served 
in that capacity with both Cordova and Grijalva. About two 
hundred Indians, natives of the island of Cuba, were taken 
for the purpose of carrying burthens, together with several 
negroes and native women, and sixteen horses and mares. 
Their stores amounted to five thousand hams, and six thousand 
cargas of maize, cassava, and yams, besides fowls, sugar, wine, 
oil, peas and other leguminous plants. The merchandise 
consisted of a variety of cheap articles, which were distributed 
amongst the ships. The burthen of the commander's ship 
was one hundred tons ; three others were eighty tons each ; and 
the remainder were brigantines and small vessels without decks. 
The device of the flag was flames of fire on a white and blue 
ground, with a red cross in the midst of the blaze, and the 
following words on the borders in Latin as a motto : " Friends, 

LET us FOLLOW THE CROSS, AND IF WE HAVE FAITH IN THAT 
STANDARD, WE SHALL CONQUER."* 

Such were the preparations made by Hernando Cortes for 
his great enterprise. Never before, says Gomara, did any cap- 
tain so feebly attended gain such brilliant victories, or subdue 
so vast an empire. He took no money with him to pay his 
men ; on the contrary he was deeply indebted ; and indeed 

* Amici, Crticem sequamur, etin hoc signo vincemus. 



INTRODUCTION. 19. 

it was not necessary to ofter wages to Spaniards in the Indies 
as an inducement to engage in such expeditions. The prospect 
of making valuable discoveries, leading to their own as well as 
the public advantage, was a sufficient consideration. When the 
whole expedition was in readiness for sailing, Cortes made an 
animated address to his followers, by which they were much 
encouraged in their hopes of a successful enterprise. After 
celebrating a solemn mass, and invoking St. Peter, his patron 
saint, he gave orders for the fleet to get under weigh, and the 
expedition finally sailed on the eighteenth of February, in the 
year 1519. 

The first night a violent storm arose that dispersed the ships, 
but as it was not of long continuance, the whole fleet, with the 
exception of one ship, arrived in good condition at the island 
of Cozumel, which had been appointed as a place of rendez- 
vous in case of separation ; the missing vessel was afterwards 
found on the other side of the peninsula, safely anchored in a 
bay near Campeachy. Pedro de Alvarado had reached Cozu- 
mel two days in advance of the rest of the expedition, and 
landing at the Indian town on the coast, found it deserted ; 
proceeding thence into the interior of the island, he discovered 
another town about a league distant, which was also abandoned 
by the inhabitants. The soldiers here seized upon every thing 
of any value, such as cotton garments, provisions, &c., and 
stripped a temple of its idols with their ornaments of gold, sac- 
rificial knives, and other utensils, formed of gold alloyed with 
copper. They also took three prisoners, two men and a woman. 
As soon as Cortes arrived, and understood what had been done 
by Alvarado's party, he was greatly incensed, and having pub- 
licly reprimanded that officer, ordered whatever had been taken 
to be restored, and the prisoners set at liberty ; to whom he 
gave some trifling presents for their caciques, as a token of 
friendship, at the same time expressing his regret at what had. 
taken place in his absence. Soon after the natives began to 
visit the Spanish camp, and before the departure of the expe- 
dition, the most cordial and friendly intercourse existed be- 
tween them. Such was a commencement of the conciliatory 
policy adopted by Cortes towards the Indians throughout his 



20 INTRODUCTION. 

whole enterprise ; he never resorted' to hostile measures until 
every possible effort had been made to av^id them without 
success. 

The principal temple on this island attracted the attention of 
the Spaniards ; it was well built of stone, in the form of a 
square tower, with four doors or windows opening upon an 
embattled corridor. It contained an idol of unusual dimen- 
sions, placed against the wall, and unlike in figure any others 
they had seen. In the rear was a room corresponding to the 
sacristry or vestry of a church, where were kept the articles 
used in the service of the temple, and belonging to the idol or 
the priests. There was a small, secret door that opened through 
the wall into the body of the idol, by means of which one of the 
priests entered, and answered audibly the prayers and petitions 
of the worshippers, who believed that the idol itself spoke, and 
were liberal in their offerings., which consisted of the fumes of 
copal, burnt as incense, .bread and fruits, together with the 
iblood of quails and other birds, dogs, and even men. Such 
was the fame of this idol, that devotees resorted to the island 
fi'om various countries for the purpose of paying it homage. 
N^ But what was most remarkable in the religious ceremonies of 
this people was their worship of the cross ; for within an en- 
closure formed by a handsome turreted wall of stone and lime, 
at the base of this temple, stood a cross of stone about ten feet 
high, which they adored as the god of rain ; and in times of 
drought, the devotees going in large processions made it offer- 
ings of quails to appease its anger. The origin of this worship 
of the cross is quite mysterious, says Gomara, (from whom this 
account is almost literally taken,) for there is no reason to sup- 
pose that the gospel was ever preached on their island, or any 
where else in the new world, before the arrival of the Spanish 
discoverers.* 

During his stay on this island, Cortes took means to reform 

* Cron. Nuev. Esp. Cap. xv. Stephens, in Ms recent work on Yucatan, has 
an interesting account of his visit to the island of Cozumel, which, it seems, is 
now destitute of inhabitants. Tlie remains of the temple described above are 
still to be seen there. '"' A " Coznmel cross" is shown in a church at Merida, but 
if the same seen on the island by the conquerors, it has received sundry addi- 
tions. Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. II. 376-7. ''Z 



INTRODUCTION. 21 

the religion of the natives by erecting altars in their temples, 
destroying their idols, and substituting in their place crosses and 
images of the, Virgin Mary and the saints ; to which the island- 
ers, abandoning their own superstitions, paid apparent respect, 
burning incense before them, and bringing them offerings of 
quails, Indian corn, fruits and other things, which they had 
been accustomed to present to their idols. They also requested 
Cortes to leave with them a teacher of the true faith, who would 
instruct them how to worship the God of the Christians ; which 
however, he declined doing on account of the small number of 
priests in the expedition, as well as from an unwillingness to ex- 
pose the life of any individual amongst a people but partially 
converted from the errors of paganism.* 

Through a native of the island who had been taken to Cuba 
by Grijalva, and now served as an interpreter, it was casually 
ascertained that there wei'e several Spaniards in captivity on 
the coast of Yucatan ; when Cortes at once despatched Ordas 
in a brigantine Avith several natives, bearing a letter addressed 
to the Spaniards, and some trifling articles for their ransom. 
Ordas, after landing the Indians on the coast, was directed to 
wait eight days only for their return ; but at the expiration of 
that time, neither the Spanish captives nor the islanders had ap- 
peared. He then went back to the island, and Cortes suppos- 
ing he had been deceived soon after took his leave of Cozumel. 
But the fleet had not proceeded far on its way, when one of the 
vessels sprung a leak, and rendered it necessary to return to the 
island for repairs. This accident was regarded by the Span- 
iards as an instance of divine interposition in their behalf; for 
it led to the I'ecovery of a Christian captive, who was well qua- 
lified to act as an interpreter of the language of Yucatan, from 
his long I'esidence in that country. The repairs were already 
completed, and the ships ready to set sail on the Saturday follow- 
ing their return to the island, but contrary winds detained them 
till the next day ; as this was the first Sunday in Lent, they de- 
termined to hear mass, and then after taking some refreshment 
to embark. While Cortes was partaking of his repast, he was 

* Fathers Olmedo and Juan Diaz (supposed author of the Itinerary of Grijalva's 
voyage) accompanied the expedition. 



22 INTRODUCTION. 

told that a canoe under sail was crossing from Yucatan in the 
direction of the ships ; and rising from the table he discovered 
the canoe bending its way to the shore. He immediately dis- 
patched a party of men to watch her landing, who, concealing 
themselves near the shore, saw four tawny savages (as they ap- 
peared) leave the canoe ; they were armed with bows and ar- 
rows, and on seeing the Spaniards approach them with drawn 
swords, three of them fled, but the fourth called the others back, 
telling them in the Indian tongue to have no fears. He then ad- 
dressed the Spaniards in their own language, and inquired if 
they were Christians ; on their answering in the affirmative, and 
that they were Spaniards, tears of joy filled his eyes ; he then 
asked if it was not Wednesday, for he had a prayer-book in 
which he prayed every day, and begged them to thank God for 
his delivery. Kneeling down devoutly, stretching out his 
hands, and turning his eyes towards Heaven, while tears bathed 
his cheeks, he made his humble prayer to God, giving him 
hearty thanks for his deliverance out of the hands of infidels 
and savages, and his restoration to the society of Christians and 
his own countrymen. The Spanish soldiers then embraced 
him, and conducted him to Cortes, by whom he was joyfully 
received and supplied with suitable apparel. His name was 
Geronimo de Aguilar. 

Cortes finally sailed from Cozumel on the fourth of March, 
having received a supply of wax and honey from the natives, 
who parted with him in the most friendly manner. Steering 
towards Yucatan, he ran in near the coast, which he closely 
followed to the northwest, examining with the boats and smaller 
vessels every little bay and river in quest of the missing ship. 
In this way they reached Campeachy, in the neighborhood of 
which, on entering a bay formed by a small group of islands, 
the missing ship was found in good condition, and so complete- 
ly land-locked that Cortes gave the bay the name of Puerto 
Escondido, which it still bears.* The ship's company hailed 
the arrival of their companions with great joy, having feared 
the loss of the rest of the fleet. They had been supplied with 
game for food by a greyhound, which had been left on the coast 
by one of the former expeditions. 

* At least there is a bay of that name in the same neighborhood. 



INTRODUCTION. 23 

From this place Cortes pursued his route to the river Tabas- 
co, where Grijalva had met with a most liberal and kind recep- 
tion from the natives.* On their arrival at the mouth of that 
river, the large ships not being able to pass the bar came to 
anchor. The Spaniards were at once struck with the appear- 
ance of boats filled with Indians ; some armed, and all much 
superior in aspect to those of the islands. Leaving a sufficient 
force to guard the ships, Cortes embarked the rest in the brigan- 
tines and small boats, with several pieces of artillery, and rowed 
up the river against a strong current. After proceeding a little 
more than half a league, he discovered a large town with houses 
built of sun-dried bi-icks and covered with thatched roofs. It 
was surrounded by a wall of timber, of great strength and pro- 
vided with loopholes, through which arrows, stones and darts 
were discharged in time of war. Accosting some of the ca- 
noes, through the interpreter Aguilar, Cortes requested leave to 
land for supplies of fresh water and provisions, of which they 
were in want, and would pay well. The boatmen promised to 
take a message to the town and bring an answer. They went, 
and soon returned bringing five or six boats filled with bread, 
and a few turkeys, which they told the Spaniards to accept as 
a gift. Cortes replied that these were entirely inadequate to 
their wants, on account of the number of persons in the large 
ships below, which they had not seen ; and he begged they 
would send word to allow him to enter the town and obtain his 
supplies. The Indians asked one night to consider his request 
and returned to the town ; while Cortes went to a little island 
in the river, where he waited till morning for their answer. Both 
practised some deception ; the Indians wanting the time in or- 
der to carry away their effects and women and children to the 
mountains during the night, and to rally their warriors ; while 
Cortes sent for the rest of his force that had been left in the 
ships to come up to the island ; and caused a search to be 
made on the river for a fording place. Neither party knew 
what the other was doing during the night. The men came 
from the ships, and a ford was found mthin less than half a 

* This river was long called from its discoverer the Rio de Grijalva : which it 
still bears on some maps. 



24 INTRODUCTION. 

league above, where the water was only two or three feet deep. 
They also discovered a thicket of trees under shelter of which 
they could approach very near the town without being seen. 
Cortes on obtaining this information immediately directed two 
officers, Alonzo de Avila and Pedro de Alvarado, with each 
150 men, to occupy the woods the same night, in order to be 
in readiness, on hearing a signal, to attack the town on the 
land side in the morning. 

As soon as it was day, eight boats filled with armed men, 
more numerous than before, came to the island, bringing a very 
small quantity of provisions, saying that they could not fetch 
more, as the inhabitants had all fled from the town from fear ; 
and they therefore begged that the Spaniards would take this 
supply, and return to the sea, and not disturb the peace of the 
country. The interpreter answered that it was shameful to leave 
them to perish with hunger, and that they would soon repent it. 
They replied that they knew them not, and as they had a fright- 
ful appearance, they feared to admit them to their houses ; and if 
they wanted water, they could take it out of the river or dig wells, 
as they did when they wanted it. Cortes then said, that he 
could by no means depart without entering the town and seeing 
the country, for the purpose of giving an account of it to the 
greatest lord in the world, who had sent him there ; and that 
they might give him a favorable reception or not, as they 
pleased ; if not, he should commend himself to the power of 
God and his own strength. The Indians retorted, that he 
had better go away, and not boast in other people's country ; 
and that as to entering the town, they would never permit it, 
and if attempted, they would destroy them all. Cortes still per- 
sisted in his endeavor to obtain an amicable reception, but 
finding it all in vain, gave the signal for the attack on the land- 
side, and he himself at the head of 200 men approached in 
boats near the town wall, where he discharged his ordnance and 
then leaped into the water to the knees, and began the assault 
on the walls and bulwarks. The Indians fought with desperation, 
wounding several Spaniards with their arrows and darts ; and 
although terrified at the strange noise of the ordnance, made a 
courageous resistance and fled not from the walls. But the 



INTRODUCTION. 26 

land force coining upon them unawares, entered the town on 
the side where it was not defended ; the enemy seeing this, left 
the river side of the town to defend the other, and in the mean 
time Cortes entered, and took possession of the market place, 
and drove the inhabitants out of the town. The Spaniards 
searched the houses, but found nothing but Indian corn, tur- 
keys, some articles of cotton, and a few grains of gold. Cortes 
took up his quarters in the temple, which afforded space enough 
to contain all the Spaniards, as it had a court and several large 
and elegant halls. This was the first city taken by force of 
arms in the course of the expedition. 

After another engagement the caciques waited upon Cortes, 
bringing presents of gold, cotton mantles, and ornaments of 
feathers, and twenty female slaves ; and having made many 
excuses for their conduct, submitted cheerfully to the power of 
the superior beings by whom they had been conquered. They 
also brought cassava bread, turkeys, fruits, and other pro- 
visions, together with a considerable amount of gold. Cortes 
received thetn kindly and made them some small presents in 
return, which they valued highly. It was remarked on this 
occasion, that the Indians were struck by the neighing of the 
horses, and imagining that they spoke, inquired of the Spa- 
niards what they said ; who replied that they were offended on 
account of their having fought against them. The simple In- 
dians then asked the horses their pardon, and gave them roses 
and turkey-hens to eat.* 

Departing from Tabasco, the expedition continued its cruise 
in a north-westerly direction, keeping close in with the land, 
until they arrived at a river which they called Alvarado, from 
the captain of that name, who was the first to enter it ; this 
name it still bears. From thence they followed the coast un- 
til they i*eached the islands of Sacrificios and S. Juan de 
Ulua, opposite the present city of Vera Cruz. 

This pai-t of the Mexican coast was called Chalchiucoecan 
by the Indians, great numbers of whom flocked down to the 

*Gom. Cron. c.xxi. Cortes in his second letter calls the river Tabasco the 
Rio Grande, and the town Potonchan. See p. 69. Goraara also gives the same 
name to the town. In his fourth letter, Cortes mentions the river under the names 
of Victoria and Grijalva. See p. 361. 

4 



26 INTRODUCTION. 

shore on the arrival of tbe fleet, and made signals to the 
Spaniards, inviting them to land. Tw^o canoes also vrent along 
side, with messengers from the governor, named Teuhtlile or 
Teudilli, inquiring for the admiral of the fleet ; and when shown 
into his presence they made a humble salutation, and gave him to 
understand that the governor wished to know what people they 
were and what they wanted, and to offer them any assistance for 
the prosecution of their voyage. Aguilar, the interpreter, was 
now at fault, not understanding their language ; but Cortes en- 
deavored to make amends by entertaining the messengers in a 
hospitable manner ; and inviting them to partake of wine and 
sweetmeats, he signified to them that the nest day he would 
come on shore and visit the governor in the most friendly manner. 
He then dismissed them with presents. The next day being 
Good Friday, Cortes landed with a large number of his men, 
taking with him also the horses and artillery, and two hundred 
natives of Cuba, who performed the drudgery of the camp. 
Having selected the best situation he could find amongst the 
sand banks on the sea shore, he employed his men in building 
huts of the branches of trees ; and while they were thus en- 
gaged, many Indians came amongst them bringing pieces of 
gold to barter for such trinkets as had been given to the gover- 
nor's messengers. They also brought much bread and meat 
already cooked in their fashion, and red pepper, which they 
were willing to give or sell to the Spaniards. In exchange for 
these things, they received glass beads, looking-glasses, scis- 
sors, knives, pins, &c., which pleased them much. The next 
day they came again with a fresh supply of gold and pro- 
visions ; but Cortes cautioned his people not to show too great 
an eagerness for gold, lest it should be supposed to have been 
the object of their coming ; and he even forbade their receiving 
it at all, in order to guard against such an impression. On the 
following day, which was Easter, Cortes received a visit in his 
camp from the governor ; who came from his residence, a dis- 
tance of eight leagues, for this purpose. He was attended by 
a retinue of men, who were unarmed and for the most part 
well clothed, some of them in rich cotton garments ; others 
were naked and laden with provisions, being in the capacity of 
porters. The governor paid his respects to Cortes after the 



INTRODUCTION. 27 

manner of the country, burning before him incense and httle 
straws touched with his own blood ; he then presented him 
the supplies of food brought by his servants, several rich jewels 
of gold, curiously wrought, and other not less finished articles 
composed of feathers. Cortes embraced him, and showed 
every mark of pleasure at his visit ; he also saluted his atten- 
dants, at the same time he gave him a robe of silk, a medal- 
lion, a necklace of glass, a quantity of beads, looking-glasses, 
scissors, laces, rings, shirts, handkerchiefs, and various articles 
composed of leather, wool, and iron, all which, though of little 
value, the Indians prized very highly. 

In consequence of Aguilar's inability to understand the Mexi- 
can or Aztec language, and the want of another interpreter, 
Cortesfound great difficulty in making himself understood by the 
governor ; fortunately this difficulty was about to be removed. 
It happened on the occasion of this visit, that one of the twenty 
female slaves given to the Spanish leader by the cacique of 
Tabasco was observed to be engaged in conversation with a 
servant of the governor, and on inquiry Cortes ascertained that 
she understood the Mexican as well as the Maya language, 
having acquired the latter at Tabasco. She was a young girl 
of great beauty and sprightliness, and quick apprehension, 
who in the distribution of the slaves had been assigned to Don 
Alonso Puertocarrero, one of the Spanish officers. With the 
rest of the slaves she was baptized at Tabasco, and took the 
name of Marina. Although in the condition of a menial, 
Marina was the daughter of a cacique of Guasacualco, having 
been taken from her home and sold as a slave after the death 
of her father. Cortes, as soon as he discovered her knowledge 
of the Mexican language, (which was spoken in the place of 
her nativity), promised to restore her to freedom, if she would act 
with fidelity as an interpreter. Marina of course complied, 
and afterwards throughout the conquest proved of invaluable 
service to the expedition. At first she interpreted the Mexican 
into Maya to Aguilar, who communicated with Cortes in 
Spanish ; but being of a quick capacity, she soon acquired a 
sufficient knowledge of the Spanish to enable her to translate 
the Mexican directly into that language. ^' She was always 



28 INTRODUCTION. 

faithful to the Spaniards," says Clavigero, " and her services 
to them can never be overrated; as she was not only the instru- 
ment of their negotiations with the Mexicans, the Tlascalans, 
and the other nations of Anahuac, but frequently saved their 
lives by warning them of dangers, and pointing out the means 
of escaping them." The same learned historian adds, " We 
have thought proper not to omit these incidents in the life of a 
woman who was the first Christian of the Mexican empire, who 
makes so distinguished a figure in the history of the conquest, 
and whose name has been, and is still so celebrated, not less 
.among the Mexicans than the Spaniards." 

The limits of this introduction forbid our giving all the par- 
ticulars of the visit of the Mexican governor to Coi'tes, but it 
resulted in impressing the Spaniards with a high conception of 
the wealth and extent of the Mexican empire. Cortes was now 
fully resolved to conquer the country, and to make a perma- 
nent settlement in it. He began to look around for a conve- 
nient situation to establish a town, and to discover a good harbor 
for his ships. Not satisfied with the place where he was, on 
account of the sandy nature of the ground, he despatched 
Montejo with two brigantines and fifty men to run along the 
coast for the purpose of finding a convenient port ; who ac- 
cordingly proceeded as far as the mouth of the aiver Panuco, 
without discovering one, and after an absence of three weeks 
returned with this report ; addieg, however, that he had met 
with a place on the coast that was sheltered by a high rock, 
which was the nearest approach to a harbor that he found. 
Being informed that the ground at this place (called Chianizt- 
lan) was convenient for a town, having woods and plains, and 
an abundance of stone suitable for building, with excellent 
pasturage and tillable land, watered by two rivers, although 
the harbor was insufficient, Cortes determined to form a settle- 
ment there, and sending round the ships he proceeded thither 
by land with 400 men and all the horses. Before his de- 
parture a deputation of Totonacas, sent by the lord of Cem- 
poal, a city eight leagues distant, came to invite tliem to visit 
that city, which was subject to the Mexicans, but inclined to 
throw off their yoke ; and haying heard of the victory at Ta- 



INTRODUCTION. 29 

basco, the cacique was desirous of forming an alliance Avith the 
Spaniards for that purpose. Cortes determined to visit this city 
on his way to the site of the proposed settlement ; and when 
he had arrived within three miles of it, he was met by a depu- 
tation of twenty citizens, bringing refreshments in the name of 
the cacique, who sent an apology for not coming himself. The 
troops marched into the city in order of battle, from apprehen- 
sion of treachery, and proceeded through the streets beholding 
with astonished pleasure the beauty and extent of the city, so 
far surpassing all they had before seen in the new world. The 
population was estimated at 60,000, and the Spaniards called 
it another Seville. 

In the market-place of Cempoal stood an immense 
building of stone and lime, with loopholes and towers, the 
walls whitened with plaster that glittered like silver as the sun 
shone upon them. At first the Spaniards imagined these walls 
to be composed of solid silver, but this error was soon corrected. 
Within this palace was a long suite of apartments, in which 
the Spaniards fixed their quarters, planting the cannon at the 
doors for security, and keeping themselves in readiness in 
case of treachery. Their fears fortunately proved groundless ; 
the cacique directed a splendid supper to be prepared for them, 
and convenient bedding. The next morning the cacique wait- 
ed upon Cortes, and made him many rare and valuable pre- 
sents ; amongst these were cotton garments in the Egyptian 
fashion with a knot on the shoulder, and jewels of gold valued 
at two thousand ducats. This visit was returned by Cortes 
on the following day in a becoming manner. In his con- 
versation the cacique complained loudly of the oppression 
and tyranny of Montezuma, the Mexican ruler, who had but 
lately usurped the government of Cempoal ; he also professed 
his willingness to join an alliance against him. At the same 
time he extolled the riches and magnificence of the city of 
Mexico, planted in the midst of a great lake, and the splendor 
of the court of Montezuma. 

After remaining several days in this city, Cortes took his 
leave, and proceeded with the troops to Chiahuitztla [Chian- 



30 INTRODUCTION. 

iztlan] where he intended to fonnd the new colony. This was 
the country of the Totonacs, who had a small town situated 
near the site of the proposed settlement, about twelve miles 
from Cempoal. These Indians were eager to throw off the 
Mexican yoke, refusing to pay the customary tribute, and even 
imprisoning the Mexican nobles who had been sent to collect it. 
They also assisted the Spaniards in building a sufficient num- 
ber of houses in the new town, and constructing a small for- 
tress. Before finally leaving his quarters on the sea coast 
where he had landed, Cortes had caused the officers of the 
proposed town to be elected in the manner customary in 
Spain.* 

It was also determined that the new town should receive 
the name of La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, which was ac- 
cordingly given to the settlement at Chiahu itztl a. This town 
is sometimes mentioned in the following letters under the name 
of Villa Rica, but more frequently of Vera Cruz.t It was 
the first Spanish colony on the continent of North America. 

After the organization of the town, Cortes resigned his command 
to the municipal authorities, on the ground that Diego Velas- 
quez from whom he had originally received it, and the royal 

* According to Gomara, these officers were appointed by Cortes ; but Bernal 
Diaz, who was present, is a better autliority in a matter of this nature. See 
Ward's Mexico, I. 73. 

+ It seems there have been three places called Vera Cruz ; first. Villa Rica de 
la Vera Cruz ; second, Vera Cruz Antigua, founded in 1523 or 4; and third, 
the present city of that name, which was not settled until near the close of the 
16th, or the beginning of the 17lh century. But the harbor at the latter place 
was well known from the first under the name of San Juan, to which the Mexi- 
can name of ChalcMuhecan was sometimes added. Gage, who visited Mexico 
in 1625, styles this place '■^ St. John de Ulhua, otherwise Vera Crux;" but the 
name of S. Juan de Ulua belongs to the island opposite the city, on which stands 
the celebrated fortress erected by the Spanish government at the enormous ex- 
pense (it is said) of more than forty millions of dollars, which was the last foot- 
hold of Spanish power in Mexico, having held out several years longer than the 
rest of the country. Its fall was announced by the President of the Republic 
in a proclamation dated November 23d, 1825, in which he said — " The standard 
of the Republic waves on the castle of Ulua ! I announce to you, fellow citi- 
zens, with indescribable pleasure, that now, after the lapse of 304 years, the flag 
of Castile has disappeared from our coast." Clavigero. Humboldt. Gage's 
New Survey of the West Indias. " Mexico in 1842," &c. 



INTRODUCTION. 31 

council at St. Domingo who had confirmed and enlarged his 
powers, were neither of them qualified to exercise any juris- 
diction in these newly discovered lands, which he was about to 
reduce and colonize in the name of the King of Castile. But 
one of the first acts of the town-council was to re-invest him 
with the authority of Captain-General and chief magistrate, 
until the pleasure of the crown was known. This step, al- 
though generally approved by the adventurers, was not accep- 
table to all ; some, who were the partisans of Velasquez, de- 
manded that the expedition should return to Cuba, iand to such 
an extent was the disaffection carried, that Cortes found it ne- 
cessary to put a number of persons under arrest, amono-st 
whom were two captains, Juan Velasquez deLeon and Diego 
de Ordas ; who, however, were afterwards gained over by per- 
suasion, and became his warm friends. Greater confidence 
had been given to this faction by the arrival of a vessel from 
that island, bringing intelligence that Velasquez had received 
from Spain the title of Adelantado, with a commission from 
the crown to govern and colonize the newly discovered lands. 
But what was of greater importance to Cortes, the same ship 
brought a small reinforcement of men and horses to his little 
army, being already somewhat reduced in number by long ex- 
posure to the unhealthy atmosphere of the bayous of the coast, 
and other causes. 

While the Spaniards were busily engaged in laying out and 
building the new town, in which they were greatly assisted by 
their neighbors the Totonacs, (whose language, difiering from 
that of Mexico, was interpreted to Marina by seme amongst 
them who understood the Aztec,) there arrived a deputation 
from the capital, consisting of two nephews of Muteczuma, 
accompanied by a numerous retinue of nobles and others, 
bringing a magnificent present of articles, beautifully wrought 
of gold and other costly materials. Cortes received them with 
expressions of gratitude, and hospitably entertained the Mexi- 
can chiefs. 

About the same time, while on a visit to the city of Cempoal, 
Cortes endeavored to convince the cacique of the absurdity of 
the worship paid to idols, and to convert him to the true faith, 



32 I N T R O D IT C T I O N. 

but without success. We cannot, he answered, abjure the 
worship of our gods, from whose hands we receive health, 
plenty, and all the blessings we enjoy. Undeterred, however, 
by the attachment which the people of Cempoal showed to 
their false deities, Cortes commanded his soldiers to enter the 
temples, and break down the idols. In the mean time, the 
cacique, filled with indignation, threatened to call down instant 
vengeance upon the heads of the Spaniards, if they dared to 
execute their purpose. But when it was suggested to him that 
his new friends would form an alliance with the Mexicans, and 
take measures to accomplish his ruin, the cacique at length told 
Cortes to do as he pleased, when fifty Spanish soldiers rapidly 
ascended the steps of the temples, and began to break in pieces 
the idolatrous images ; this would have provoked an attack 
from the more daring amongst the people, had not the Spanish 
leader caused the cacique and four of the priests to be seized, 
and required them to exercise their influence in curbing the 
violence of the excited multitude. He afterwards compelled 
the priests to collect the fragments of the idols and commit 
them to the flames in his presence, and introduced the symbols 
of Christian worship into all their temples. Thus was idolatry 
finally extinguished in Cempoal. 

Cortes now resolved to march to the city of Mexico ; but 
prior to his departure, he thought proper to transmit to his 
sovereign an account of all that had occurred to the expedi- 
tion. The letter or despatch containing this report, is not now 
extant, but there is no doubt that it comprised all the particu- 
lars of the enterprise, from the first moment of his connection 
with it, including his difficulties with the governor of Cuba ; * 
its loss is therefore deeply to be regretted. At the same time, 
he forwarded to the emperor the whole amount of gold and 
other articles of value which had been procured in the country, 
having induced the soldiers to relinquish their share for this 
purpose. Two other letters were also written, one subscribed 
by the magistrates of the new colony, and the other by 
the principal officers of the army, in which they requested 

* Gom. Cron. c, 40. 



INTRODUCTION. 33 

liis acceptance and approbation of what they had done in his 
service, and to confirm the offices of General and Chief Judge 
conferred by them on Cortes, whom they recommended in 
terms of the higliest praise.* The two captains Puertocarrei'D 
and Montejo were deputed to be the bearers of the letters and 
presents to Spain, who accordingly set sail in the best ship of 
the squadron, with Alaminos for their pilot, on the 16th of July, 
1519. They arrived in safety at St. Lucar in the following 
October ; but on information to the board of trade by the chap- 
lain of Diego Velasquez, then in Spain, every thing in the 
ship was seized, but the present to the king was sent to him at 
Valladolid. The commissioners, accompanied by the father of 
Cortes, succeeded in obtaining an audience of the king at 
Tordesillas, where the presents were exhibited, together with 
several native Mexicans of both sexes, and drew forth the 
admiration of Charles and all who beheld them. But owing 
to the pressure of other cares, the king referred the matters in 
dispute between Cortes and the governor of Cuba to the coun- 
cil of the Indies, from whom it passed to Cardinal Adrian, re- 
gent of the kingdom during the emperor's absence in Germany, 
and thus great delays arose in regard to a final determination. 
Cortes had a powerful enemy to contend with in Spain, who 
was no less a person than Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, the pre- 
sident of the council of the Indies, to whom was committed the 
regulation of colonial aflfairs. This man, so notorious for the 
spiteful malevolence with which he thwarted the views of Co- 
lumbus, was equally rancorous in his opposition to the con- 
queror of Mexico. During a period of more than thirty years 
Fonseca exercised an almost despotic control over Spanish 
American afi'airs. " His administration," says Irving, " bears 
no marks of enlarged and liberal policy, but is full of traits of 
arrogance and meanness. * * * To show that his character 
has not been judged with undue severity, it is expedient to 
point out his invidious and persecuting conduct towards Her- 
nando Cortes. The bishop, while ready to foster rambling ad- 
venturers who came forward under his patronage, had never 

* Clavigero. 
5 



«54r INTRODUCTION. 

the head or the heart to appreciate the merits of illustrious 
commanders like Columbus and Cortes."* It is added that 
personal interest induced Fonseca to favor Diego Velasquez, 
between whom and a sister of the bishop a marriage was ne- 
gotiating at that time. Thus every obstacle was thrown in the 
way of a just appreciation of the services of Cortes, and, as 
will be seen in the following Despatches, nothing but the ex- 
ercise of the utmost tact and firmness prevented on more than 
one occasion his being arrested in the midst of his career of 
conquest. 

But at length, after nearly three years of tedious delay, em- 
bittered by false and malicious imputations, the venerable 
father of Cortes and the deputies from New Spain, having 
made a statement of their case to the Cardinal, afterwards Pope 
Adrian VI., succeeded in obtaining an order forbidding the 
bishop to interfere in the controversy between Cortes and 
Velasquez, and revoking as far as possible all his former acts 
in relation to this matter. This was soon followed by a refer- 
ence of the affair to a special commission, composed of the 
grand chancellor and other eminent persons, who, after a full 
hearing on both sides,t unanimously agreed in awarding a 
triumphant verdict in favor of Cortes. It was decided that 
Velasquez had no other claim than for the money he had ex- 
pended in the outfit of the expedition ; but that by revoking 
the commission he had granted to Cortes, he had left him free 
to act as he should judge best for the royal service with the 
ships and men, which for the most part he had raised and 
equipped at his own expense and that of his friends. This de- 
cision was fully approved by the emperor, and communicated 
to Cortes in a royal despatch, which contained likewise infor- 
mation of his appointment as Governor and Captain-General 
of New Spain, and the most flattering encomiums on his con- 
duct. Other despatches were sent at the same time to Diego 

*"ii/e and Voyages of Columbus.'''' I. 338-9. 

t On the part of Cortes appeared his father, Martin Cortes, Francisco de 
Montejo, Francisco Nunez, and other attorneys : and on the part of Velas- 
quez, Manuel de Roxas, Andres de Duero, and others- Gomara, Cron. c. 165. 



INTRODUCTION. 35 

Velasquez and Francisco de Garay, censuring their past pro- 
ceedings, and commanding them to desist from any future 
interference with the affairs of New Spain. These despatches 
were all dated the 22d of October, 1523. A more signal 
triumph could not have been achieved, which, while it gave 
additional lustre to the victorious career of Cortes, carried dismay 
to the minds of liis great opponents, Fonseca and Velasquez, 
both of whom died not long after in comparative disgrace. 

Having thus brought this preliminary sketch of the early ex- 
peditions to the Mexican coast, and of the career of the con- 
queror, down to the time when the narrative is taken up by his 
own pen, it only remains to add a list of the principal articles 
already mentioned, which the Spaniards received on their first 
landing in Mexico, being for the most part presents from Mon- 
tezuma through his governor Teuthlili. They were sent to 
Charles V, by the first commissioners Puertocarrero and Mon- 
tejo, in 1519, and a description of them was soon after pub- 
lished by Peter Martyr, the learned Italian who had long en- 
joyed the confidence of the Spanish court, and is well known 
for his friendship towai'ds Columbus, and the interest he took in 
his voyages. A list of them is also contained in Gomara's 
Chronicles of New Spain. They consisted of the following 
specimens of Mexican art and bijouterie : — 

A gold necklace composed of seven pieces, with a hundred 
and eighty-three small emeralds set in it, and two hundred and 
thirty-two gems similar to small rubies, from which hung twen- 
ty-seven little bells of gold, and some pearls. 

Another necklace of four pieces of gold, with one hundred 
and two red gems like small rubies, one hundred and seventy- 
two emeralds, and ten fine pearls set in it, with twenty-six little 
bells of gold.* 

Two wheels, one of gold with the image of the sun, and the 
other of silver with the image of the moon upon it ; both formed 
of plates of those metals, each twenty-eight hands in circum- 

* " The gems most common among the Mexicans were emeralds, amethysts, cor- 
nelians, turquoises, and some others not known in Europe. * * * When Cortes 
returned the first time to Spain, (in 1528,) he brought along with him, amongst 



36 INTRODUCTION. 

ference, with various figures of animals and other things, in 
hasso relievo, finished with great ingenuity and skill.* 

A headpiece of wood carved with gold, and adorned with 
gems, from which hung twenty -five little bells of gold ; in- 
stead of a plume it had a green bird with eyes, beak, and feet 
of gold. 

A bracelet of gold. A little rod like a sceptre, with two 
rings of golds at its extremities, set with pearls. 

Four tridents, adorned with feathers of various colors, with 
pearl points tied with gold thread. 

Several shoes of the skin of the deer, sewed with gold thread, 
the soles of which were made of blue and white stones, of a 
briUiant appearance. 

A shield of wood and leather, with little bells hanging to it, 
and covered with plates of gold in the middle, on which was 
cut the image of the god of war between four heads of a lion, 
a tiger, an eagle, and an owl, represented alive with their 
hair and feathers. 

Several dressed skins of quadrupeds and birds with their 
plumage and hair. 

Twenty-four curious and beautiful shields of gold, of fea- 
thers, and very small pearls, and four others of feathers and sil- 
ver only. 

Four fishes, two ducks, and some other birds, of molten gold. 

Two sea-shells of gold, and a large crocodile girt with threads 
of gold. 

A large mirror adorned with gold, and many small mirrors. 
Several mitres and crowns of feathers and gold, ornamented 
with pearls and gems. 

other inestimable jewels, five emeralds, which, as Gomara, who was then living, 
bears testimony were valued at a hundred thousand ducats, and for one of them 
some Genoese merchants offered him forty thousand, in order to sell it again to 
the grand seis;nior ; and also two emerald vases, valued as the celebrated P. 
Miariana, [in his History of Spain,] says, at 300,000 ducats." Clavigero. These 
five emeralds were exquisitely wrought by the Mexicans, at the order of Cortes, 
into various forms, and presented by him to his second wife, daughter of the count 
de Aguilar ; jewels, says Gomara who saw them, superior to those of any other 
lady in Spain. 

* The Mexicans represented their divisions of time by the figure of a wheel j 
Clavigero considers these to have been intended for that purpose. 



INTRODUCTION. 36* 

Several large plumes of beautiful feathers of various colors, 
fretted with gold and small pearls. 

Several fans of gold and feathers mixed together ; others of 
feathers only, of different forms and sizes, but all most rich and 
elegant.* 

A variety of cotton mantles, some all white, others checquer- 
ed with white and black, or red, green, yellow, and blue ; on 
the outside rough like a shaggy cloth, and within destitute of 
color or nap. 

A number of underwaistcoats, handkerchiefs, counterpanes, 
tapestries, and carpets, of cotton. 

The workmanship of these articles is described by Gomara 
as superior to the materials of which they were composed : 
" the colors of the cotton were extremely fine, and those of the 
feathers natural. In the art of casting metals the Mexican 
smiths far excel ours." 

But what seems most to have attracted the attention of Peter 
Martyr was the existence of books amongst the Mexicans, of 
which several specimens were contained in the list of presents. 
He compares them to tablets made to fold together, consisting 
of a great number of leaves, which being connected might 
be stretched out to a considerable length. The characters 
were entirely unlike those of the European languages, but re- 
seinbled Egyptian hieroglyphics.f The paper, he says, was 
made of the inner bark of a certain tree, bruised in a mortar, 
and mixed with a species of gum ; but according to Gomara, it 
was formed of cotton and a species of paste, and sometimes of 
the leaves of the Metl, or American aloe.| A more modern 
writer, Clavigero, remarks, that he had seen several sheets of 

* Count Carli, the celebrated author of " Lettere Americane," published at 
Florence, has the following description of a Mexican fan : — " I saw," he says, 
" at Strasburgh, in 1760, in the possession of Father Le Fevre, a Jesuit, and a 
man of great respectability, a very ancient Mexican fan, made of linen [cotton] 
as fine as the most beautiful muslin known. On it were depicted a number of 
figures forming a mosaic. Never have I beheld any thing so beautiful, both for 
the art with which the native and splendid colors of the feathers were disposed, 
and for the beauty of the design. No artist in Europe could have done as well." 

t " Sunt characteres a nostris valde dissimiles ; * * * jEgyptias fere formas. 
semulantur." "X)e Insulis nuper inventis" &c. p. 11. (Printed in 1521.) 

t Agave Americana. 



^6lt INTRODUCTION. 

Mexican paper, which was similar to the pasteboard of Europe, 
but softer, smoother, and easy for writing. 

In addition to these works of art, the deputies were accom- 
panied in their mission to Spain by four Mexican nobles and 
two native women, who were exhibited to the emperor, and 
excited much interest. They are described by Martyr, who 
saw them, as being of a brownish color, (" suffusca gens,''^) and 
having jewels set in gold pendant from their ears ; the men 
wearing besides similar ornaments suspended by an aperture 
throiigh the nether lip The latter fashion he chracterizes as 
most unseemly, although the Indians regarded it as highly be- 
coming. This interview took place at Tordesillas, in the north 
of Spain; and the emperor with great consideration directed 
the Mexicans to be taken to Seville in the south, where they 
would be less exposed to a change of climate. 



LETTER II. 
THE SECOND LETTER OR RELATION 

SENT TO 

HIS MAJESTY THE EMPEROR, 

BY THE 

CAPTAIN GENERAL OF NEW SPAIN, 

HERNANDO CORTES, 

In which he describes innumerable provinces and lands which have been 
lately discovered in Yucatan. 

J. Cromberger. Sevilla, 1532. 



LETTERS OR DESPATCHES 



HERNANDO CORTES, 



EMPEROR CHARLES V. 



LETTER IL 

Dated at Segura de la Frontera^ {Mexico,) Oct. 80^^, 1520. 

Most Noble, Powerful and Catholic Prince, 

Invincible Emperor, and our Sovereign Lord : 

By a ship that I despatched from this New Spain 
of your Sacred Majesty, on the sixteenth of July, in the 
year 1519, I transmitted to your Highness a very fuU 
and particular report of what had occurred from the 
time of my arrival in this country to that date ; which I 
sent by the hands of Alonso Hernandez Puertocarrero 
and Francisco de Montejo, deputies of La Rica Villa de 
la Vera Cruz, the town I had founded in your Majesty's 
name. Since that time, from want of opportunity, and 
being constantly engaged in making conquests and esta- 
blishing peace, having no ships, nor any intelligence from 
the one I had sent, or the deputies, I have not been able 
till now to give your Majesty a further account of our 
operations j from which God knows how much pain I 

6 



38 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

have suffered. I have been desirous that your Highness 
should be informed concerning the affairs of this country, 
because, as I have already mentioned in my former re- 
lation, such are its extent and importance, that the pos- 
session of it would authorize your Majesty to assume 
anew the title of Emperor, which it is no less worthy of 
conferring than Germany itself, which, by the grace of 
God, you already possess. But a detailed account of 
whatever presents itself deserving observation in these 
new regions would be almost endless ; and I must beg 
your Majesty's pardon if my relation is less complete 
than it should be, owing to my want of ability, and the 
peculiar circumstances in which I am now placed. I 
shall nevertheless use my best efforts to relate the truth 
as nearly as possible, and to inform your Majesty of what 
it is important at the present juncture you should know. 
I must also entreat your Majesty's pardon if I should not 
mention every circumstance of any weight, or fail to give 
with great exactness the time and manner in which 
events may have occurred ; or should I make mistakes 
in the names of the cities and towns, as well as pro- 
vinces, that have professed their allegiance to your 
Majesty, and acknowledged themselves your subjects 
and vassals. For, in consequence of a disaster that has 
recently happened, of which I shall hereafter give your 
Highness a full account, I have lost all my papers, in- 
cluding the official records of my proceedings with the 
inhabitants of these countries, and many other things. 

In my former despatch, Most Excellent Prince, I gave 
a list of the cities and towns that had to that time volun- 
tarily submitted to your authority, together with those 
I had reduced by conquest. I also mentioned having 
received information from the natives of a certain great 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 39 

Lord, called Muteczuma,* who, according to their com- 
putation of distances, dwelt ninety or a hundred leagues 
from the coast and the port where I had disembarked ; 
and that, trusting in the greatness of God, and the con- 
fidence inspired by the royal name of your Highness, I 
proposed to go and see him wherever he might be. I 
also recollect having engaged to do more than was in 
my power in regard to the demand I intended to make 
of this personage ; for I assured your Highness that he 
should be taken either dead or alive, or become a subject 
to the royal throne of your Majesty. With this deter- 
mination I departed from the city of Cempoal, to which 
I gave the name of Sevilla, on the 16th of August, with 
fifteen horse and three hundred infantry, all in the best 
condition for war in which I was able, or the time per- 
mitted me to render them. I left in the town of Vera 
Cruz one hundred and fifty men and two horses, occupied 
in building a fort, which was already nearly finished ; 
and I also left the whole province of Cempoal, and all 
the mountainous region adjacent to the town, containing 
fifty thousand warriors, and fifty towns and fortresses, 
in peace and security, and firm in their allegiance to 
your Majesty, as they have remained to the present 
time.t Although they were subjects of Muteczuma, yet 
according to the information I received, they had been 
reduced to that condition by force, within a short period ; 
and when they had obtained through me some knowledge 
of your Highness, and of your great regal power, they 
declared their desire to become vassals of your Majesty, 

* Thus the name is uniformly written by Cortes. 

t Cempoal still retains the same name ; it is situated four leagues from Vera 
Cruz, and the extent of its ruins indicates its former greatness. It must not be 
confounded with another Zempoal, in the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Mexico, 
twelve leagues distant from the former. — L. 



40 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and to form an alliance with me. They also begged me 
to protect them against that mighty Lord, who used vio- 
lent and tyrannical measures to keep them in subjection, 
and took from them their sons to be slain and offered as 
sacrifices to his idols ; with many other complaints 
against him, in order to avoid whose tyranny they em- 
braced the service of your Majesty, to which they have 
so far proved faithful, and I doubt not will continue so, 
since they have been uniformly treated by me with favor 
and attention. Nevertheless, for the better security of 
our people who remained at Vera Cruz, I took with me 
several of their principal men, and some of an inferior 
order, who have been of no little service to me on my 
route. 

I informed your Majesty, I believe, in my former des- 
patch, that some of those persons that accompanied me, who 
had been servants and friends of Diego Velazquez, werejea- 
lousofwhatlhad accomplished in the service of yourHigh- 
jiess ; and even soughtto create disaffection in our ranks, 
and compel me to abandon the country. The leaders 
in this business were four Spaniards, namely : Juan 
Escudero, Diego Cermeno, a pilot, Gonzalo de Ungria, 
also a pilot, and Alonso Peiiate, who, as they voluntarily 
confessed, had determined toseize a brigantine then in 
port, put on board a large quantity of bread and pork, 
and after killing the master, to sail for the island of Fer- 
nandina, [Cuba,] for the purpose of informing Diego 
Velazquez that I had despatched a ship to your Majesty, 
with the names of those who had sailed in it, and the 
route it had taken, to enable him to send vessels in pur- 
suit and capture it. This he afterwards attempted ; as I 
have been informed that he despatched a caravel after 
the ship, which he would have taken if it had not passed 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO-' 41 

on the outside.* They also confessed that ot"hers had 
been desirous of sending information to Diego Velazquez. 
Upon their confessions, I punished the delinquents as jus- 
tice, the necessity of the case, and the service of your 
Highness required. But besides those who from having 
been the servants and friends of Velazquez wished to 
leave the country, there were others that entered into the 
same views, on beholding the great number and power 
of the people of the country, while the Spaniards were 
so few and inconsiderable. Believing, therefore, that 
if I left the ships there they would mutiny, and all be 
induced to depart, leaving me almost alone, and by this 
means the great service rendered to God and your Majes- 
ty be made of no avail ; I determined, under the pretext 
that the ships were not seaworthy, to cause them to be 
stranded on the coast ; thus taking away all hope of leav- 
ing the country, I pursued my route with greater feelings 
of security, having no fears that after our backs were 
turned the people I had left at Vera Cruz would desert 
me. 

Eight or ten days after the ships were stranded, hav- 
ing gone from Vera Cruz towards the city of Cempoal, 
which is four leagues distant, in order to proceed from 
thence on my route, I received intelligence from the 
former place that four ships had arrived on the coast, and 
that the captain I had left in command there had gone out 
to them in a boat, when he was told they belonged to 
Francisco de Garay, Lieutenant and Governor of the 
island of Jamaica, and had come on a voyage of dis- 
covery. The captain informed them that I had founded 
a colony in the country, in the name of your Highness, 

* That is, to the north of Cuba, through the Bahama Channel. 



42 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and built a town one league from where the ships lay ; 
adding that he would accompany them to the place and 
apprise me of their arrival ; and that if their ships were 
in want of repairs, they could be made in the harbor, to 
which he would pilot them in his boat ; at the same time 
pointing out where it was. They replied, that they had 
already seen the harbor, having passed before it, and 
would do as he suggested. The captain then returned 
with his boat, bat the ships had not followed, nor entered 
the harbor ; they had, however, sailed along the coast, 
and the captain was at a loss to know their design ; he 
had, therefore, made me acquainted with the circum- 
stances. I immediately returned to Vera Cruz, where I 
learned that the ships lay at anchor on the coast three 
leagues below, and that no one had landed from them. 
I then went down to the shore with a number of men to 
reconnoitre the ships, and having got within about a 
league of them I met three of their men, amongst whom 
was one that styled himself a notary ; he had taken the 
other two with him, as he told me, to witness a certain 
notification which the captain required him to serve on 
me, and which he had brought there for the purpose, set- 
ting forth a certain claim on his part ; the substance of 
it was, that he had discovered this country and intended 
to colonize it; he therefore required that I should estab- 
lish with him a line of demarcation ; and that he pro- 
posed to make a settlement at a place five leagues down 
the coast near the former Nautical, a city twelve leagues 
from Vera Cruz, now called Almeria. 

I answered, that the captain must come with his ships 
to the port of Vera Cruz, where we would talk together, 
and I should understand better the purpose he had in 
view : that if he was in want of any thing for his ships 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 43 

or men, I would supply him as far as it was in my 
power; and since he had declared that he had come 
in the service of your Sacred Majesty, I added that I 
desired nothing more than to promote the service of your 
Highness to the utmost extent of my ability, and that by 
aiding him I believed I should do so. They replied, 
that neither their captain nor any of his people could be 
induced to come on shore at any place where I might 
be. Believing that they must have done some wrong 
in the country, as they feared to come into my presence, 
as soon as it was dark I took a position in the most 
secret manner near the sea-coast, opposite where the 
ships rode at anchor, and there I remained until nearly 
the middle of the next day, expecting the captain or 
pilot to come on shore, from whom I might ascertain 
what they had done, and what places they had visited, 
intending if I discovered that they had been guilty of any 
illegal acts, to send them to your Sacred Majesty ; but 
neither they nor any other persons landed from the ships. 
Finding that they would not come on shore, I caused the 
men who had sought to serve me with the notification, to 
exchange clothes with the same number of Spaniards in 
my party, and I sent the latter to the shore, and directed 
them to call aloud to the ships. As soon as they were 
discovered, a boat containing ten or twelve men, armed 
with cross-bows and handguns, came to land, and the 
Spaniards who had called to them, withdrew from the 
shore behind some bushes that grew about there, as if 
for shade. Four men leaped on shore from the boat, tv/o 
cross-bowmen, and two musketeers, who were imme- 
diately surrounded by the Spaniards, and taken prisoners. 
One of them was master of a ship, who applied the 
match to his handgun and would have slain the captain 



44 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

that had been stationed by me at Vera Cruz, if it had 
not pleased our Lord that the match should not give fire. 
The men who remained in the boat put off from the shore, 
but before they reached the ships the sails were already 
set, without waiting for them, or those on board desiring 
to know what had become of them. I was informed by 
the prisoners I had taken, that they had reached a river 
thirty leagues along the coast, after passing Almeria, 
where they had met with a favorable reception from the 
natives, who supplied them with provisions in the way 
of barter ; and that they had seen some gold which the 
Indians brought, although in small quantities : they ob- 
tained in all about 3000 castellanos of gold* in trade. 
That they did not land upon the coast, but approached 
the towns on the banks of the river so near as to be able 
to distinguish the people from the ships. That they had 
no stone edifices, but all their houses were of thatch, 
excepting that the ground on which they were built was 
raised to a considerable height by the labor of the hand. 
All of this I subsequently learned more fully from the 
great Lord Muteczuma, and from certain interpreters of 
that country that he had with him ; whom, together with 
an Indian brought in those ships from that river, and 
taken prisoner by me, I sent with other messengers from 
Muteczuma, that they might induce the sovereign of the 
river, which is called Panuco, to enter the service of 
your Sacred Majesty. And he sent them back to me 
with a principal person, or as they termed him, the Lord 
of a town ; who gave me on his part certain cloth, pre- 
cious stones, and feather-work, and said that he and all 
his people were wilhng to be the subjects of your Majesty 
and my allies. I made him presents of various articles 

* The castellano is an ancient Spanish coin, about $2 75 in value. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 45 

from Spain, with which he was greatly pleased, so much 
so, that when he saw other ships of the abovementioned 
Francisco de Garay, (of whom I shall hereafter give 
your Majesty some account,) the said Lord of Panuco 
sent to inform me that those ships were in another river, 
five or six days journey from thence ; at the same time 
he gave them to understand that if the persons in the 
ships were countrymen of mine, he would give them 
whatever they wanted ; and accordingly carried them 
some women, together with chickens and other articles 
of food. 

I was three days, most powerful Sire, in passing through 
the country and dominion of Cempoal, where I was well 
received and hospitably entertained by all the inhabitants* 
On the fourth day I entered a province called Sienchima- 
len, in which there is a very strong town, occupying a com- 
manding situation on one side of a rocky sierra, accessi- 
ble only by a single passage, which it is impossible to 
penetrate except on foot, and even then with great diffi- 
culty if the natives should wish to defend the pass. In 
the open country there are many villages and hamlets^ 
consisting of two, three, or five hundred families, which 
contain altogether five or six thousand warriors ; and these 
are under the authority of Muteczuma. They received 
me here very favorably, and supplied in the most liberal 
manner the necessary provision for my route. At the 
same time they inform^ed me that they knew I was going to 
see Muteczuma their sovereign, and added that he was 
certainly my friend, having sent them instructions to give 
me a good reception, as in so doing they would promote 
his service. I made a suitable acknowledgment of their 
civility, saying that your INlajesty had possessed some 
knowledge of Muteczuma, and had ordered me to visit 

7 



46 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

him, but that I was going for no other purpose than to 
see him. And then I entered a mountain pass which is 
at the extremity of this province, to which we gave the 
name of the Pass of the Name of God,* as it was the first 
we had met with in this region. It is so rough and steep 
that there is not one so difficult in all Spain. I went 
through it in safety and without encountering any ob- 
struction. At its foot there are other hamlets, belonging 
to a town and fort called Ceyconacan,t which was also 
subject to Muteczuma. We were equally well received 
here as at Sienchimalen ; and the people told us, as the 
others had done, that such was the pleasure of Mutec- 
zuma. I made them also a similar acknowledgment for 
their kindness. 

From thence I travelled three days through a coun- 
try destitute of inhabitants, and, indeed, scarcely habit- 
able on account of the sterility of the soil, the want 
of water, and the coldness of the climate ; God knows 
how much our people suffered there from hunger and 
thirst, especially during a violent storm of hail and rain 
which we encountered, when I thought many would 
perish with cold. We had already lost several Indians 
from the island of Fernandina, [Cuba,] who were not 
well clothed. At the end of these three days we met 
with another mountain pass,| not, however, so steep as 
the former, and at its summit there was a tower, small 
almost as an oratory, and which contained several idols, 
and around it were more than a thousand cart-loads of wood 
compactly arranged, on account of which we gave it the 
name of the Pass of Wood. Below this pass, between 
very rough mountains, there was a populous valley, whose 

* El Puerto del Nombre de Dios. t Now Yshuacan de los Reyes.— L. 
t Supposed to be Sierra del Agua. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO- 47 

inhabitants seemed to be poor; and after having marched 
two leagues through their country without knowing any 
thing of them, I reached a place somewhat more level, 
where the Lord of the Valley appeared to have his resi- 
dence, as the houses were larger and better built than 
any we had before met with in the country, being all 
composed of hewn stone and apparently new ; and they 
contained many very large and handsome halls and 
apartments elegantly finished. The people and valley 
were called Caitanmi. I was well received and lodged 
here by the lord and his people. After having addressed 
him on the part of your Majesty, and stated the cause of 
my coming into these parts, I inquired of him if he was 
a subject of Muteczuma, or whether he belonged to an- 
other jurisdiction. He answered as if astonished at ray 
question, by asking, "Who is not a subject of Muteczu- 
ma ?" As much as to say that he was the sovereign of 
the world. I replied by describing the great power and 
wide sway of your Majesty, to whom many other sove- 
reigns more powerful than Muteczuma were subject, 
esteeming it for their advantage to be so ; and that thus 
Muteczuma and all the inhabitants of this country would 
find it to be ; that this would be required of them, and 
should they yield obedience, they would be honored and 
favored ; if not, they would be punished. And in order 
that I might have some evidence of his homage, I request- 
ed him to furnish me with some gold that I might send 
it to your Majesty. He replied that he had gold,* but 
he must receive the orders of Muteczuma before he 



* The gold that the Indians sent in small quantities asa tribute to their sove- 
reign, was obtained by them from the sands of the rivers, or collected from 
the surface of the earth ; but the process of working the mines as practised at 
the present day, was introduced by the Spaniards.— L. 



48 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

parted with it; and if he commanded him he would give 
me the gold, his own person, and whatever else he pos- 
sessed. In order not to compromise myself nor throw 
obstacles in the way of my designs or my journey, I dis- 
sembled as well as I could, and remarked to him that he 
would soon receive orders from Muteczuma to give me 
the gold, and whatever else he had. 

There came to meet me here two other Caciques, 
whose lands were in the same valley, the one four 
leagues below, and the other two leagues above. They 
gave me several chains of gold of small weight and 
value, and seven or eight slaves. Leaving them very 
well satisfied, I set off, after having remained there four 
or five days, and arrived at the residence of the Cacique 
mentioned as being two leagues distant in the upper part 
of the valley ; it is called Yztecmastitan.* The domains 
of this man are covered with inhabitants for three or four 
leagues without interruption, and are situated along the 
level ground of the valley on the banks of a small river 
that flows through it. His residence stands on a lofty 
eminence, protected by a larger fortress than is found in 
half of Spain, which is well defended by walls, barba- 
cans and moats ; on the summit of this high ground there 
is a population of five or six thousand, dwelling in good 
houses, and a somewhat richer people than those who in- 
habit the valley below. Here, likewise, I was well re- 
ceived, and the Cacique told me that he was a vassal of 
Muteczuma. I remained here three days, as well to re- 
cruit from the effects of our journey through the desert 
country, as to wait for four messengers, natives of Cem- 
poal, that had accompanied me, whom I had sent from 
Caltanmi to a very extensive province called Tascalteca,t 

* Now palled Yxtacamaxtillan.-^L. t Now Tlascda. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 49 

which they informed me was near this place, as it proved 
to be. I had also been informed by them that the natives 
of this province were their allies, but deadly enemies of 
Muteczuma ; and they desired me to form an alliance 
with them, because they were a numerous and powerful 
nation. Their country, they also added, bordered upon 
that of Muteczuma throuahout its whole extent, with 
whom they were constantly at war ; and it was thought 
they would be pleased with me, and take my part in 
case Muteczuma should endeavor to get the advantage 
of me. The messengers did not return during the eight 
days that I remained in the valley, and I asked some 
other Cempoallans who accompanied me why they did 
not return ? They answered that the place must be very 
far off, and that they could not get back yet on account 
of the distance. Seeing that they did not arrive, and 
being assured b}'- several leading Cempoallans of the 
friendship and protection of the people of that province, 
I resolved to set out on my way thither. 




On leaving the valley, I met with a large wall of dry 
stone about nine feet in height, which extended across 
the valley from one mountain to the other ; it was twenty 
feet in thickness and surmounted throughout its whole 
extent by a breastwork a foot and a half thick, to enable 
them to fight from the top of the wall. There was but 
one entrance, about ten paces wide, where one portion 
of the wall was encircled by the other, in the manner of 



6# LETTERS OF COKTES. 

a ravelin, for about forty paces. Thus the entrance was 
circuitous, and not direct. Having inquired the object 
of this wall, I was informed that it was erected on ac- 
count of this place being the frontiers of the province of 
Tascalteca, [Tlascala,] whose inhabitants were enemies 
of Muteczuma and always at war with him.* The na- 
tives of this valley begged me, since I was going to visit 
Muteczuma their sovereign, that I would not pass through 
the territory of his enemies, as perchance they might 
prove unfriendly and do me much injury ; and promised 
to conduct me through the dominions of Muteczuma 
without at any time leaving his jurisdiction, where we 
should be always well received. But the Cempoallans 
bade me do no such thing ; assuring me that they had 
given this advice in order to divert me from the friend- 
ship of that province ; and that the people of Muteczuma 
were all of a designing and treacherous character, and 
would lead me into places from which I should be un- 
able to extricate myself. I followed the advice of the 
Cempoallans, as I had formed a more favorable opinion 
of them than of the others ; and, accordingly, I pursued 
the route to Tascalteca, proceeding with all the caution 
in my power. Taking six horsemen, I rode in advance 
half a league and more ; not thinking of what I was 
about to encounter, but for the purpose of reconnoitering 
the country, and ascertaining if there was any obstacle 
to my progress, that I might have time to concert the 
necessary measures and get the people in readiness. 

* The length of this wall was six miles. Bernal Dias says, that the stones of 
which it was composed were united by a bitumen so strong that it was necessa- 
ry to use pick-axes to separate them. See also Clavigero, book vii. sec. 26. 



OONQUES* OP MEXICO. 61 



CHAPTER II. 



After having advanced four leagues, as ^ve approach- 
ed a hill two of the horsemen who rode before me espied 
several Indians wearing plumes, as was their custom in 
war, and provided with swords and shields, who as soon 
as they discovered the horsemen began to fly. When I 
had come up, I ordered them to be called back, with the as- 
surance that they might return and have nothing to fear. 
I went towards them and found there were fifteen In- 
dians, who, closing together, began to handle their wea- 
pons and call out to the rest of their people who were in 
the valley ; and they fought with such determination that 
they finally killed two of our horses and wounded three 
others, together w4th two horsemen. Thereupon the 
others sallied forth, to the number of four or five thou- 
sand Indians. Eight of the cavalry had already joined 
me, exclusive of those whose horses had been killed, and 
we continued the conflict until reinforced by the Span- 
iards, for whom I had despatched one of the horsemen. 
In the mean time we had done them some injury^ having 
killed fifty or sixty of their number without any corres- 
ponding loss on our part, although they fought with great 
courage and spirit ; but as we were all on horseback we 
attacked them with safety to ourselves, and fell back in 
the same manner. When they saw our reinforcement ap- 
proaching they retired, although our number was smally 
and left us in possession of the field. After they had 
gone, there came several messengers, who informed us 
that they were the rulers of this province ; they were 
also accompanied by two of the messengers that I had 



52 liETTERS OF CORTES. 

sent, who assured me that these men knew nothing of 
what had taken place ; that it had proceeded from the 
common people, who had acted without authority from 
them ; and that they were grieved and would pay for 
the horses that had been killed, being desirous of be- 
coming our friends ; and that we should be well received 
by them as soon as an opportunity offered. I answered 
them that I acknowledged their kindness and would con- 
sider them as friends, and proceed according to their ad- 
vice. The same night I was compelled to sleep on the 
banks of a rivulet, one league in advance of the battle- 
ground, both on account of the lateness of the hour and 
the fatigue of the troops. I remained there with the ut- 
most caution, stationing a watch and guard both of horse 
and foot until it was daylight, when I took up the line of 
march, having placed in order of battle the vanguard 
and main body, preceded by the runners. Having 
reached a small settlement just as the sun was rising, 
the two other messengers came in with lamentations, 
saying that they had been bound for the purpose of be- 
ing put to death, but that they had made their escape in 
the night. And not two stones' throw from them a great 
number of Indians began to appear, well armed and utter- 
ing loud cries, and commenced an attack upon our people, 
discharging many darts and arrows. I undertook to 
make a formal appeal to them through the interpreters 
that I had brought with me instead of a notary. But 
the more I delayed for the purpose of reasoning with 
them and inducing peace, the more eager they seemed to 
give us all the annoyance in their power. Seeing that 
they did not regard our overtures, we endeavored to de- 
fend ourselves as well as we could ; and thus they drew 
us on while engaged in fighting, until we found ourselves 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 53 

in the midst of more than one hundred thousand war- 
riors, who surrounded us on all sides ; the battle lasted 
the whole day until an hour before sunset, when they 
drew off. In this contest, with six pieces of ordnance, 
five or six handguns, forty archers and thirteen horse> 
that remained with me, I did them much injury, without 
suffering from them any other inconvenience than the 
labor and fatigue of fighting and hunger. And it truly 
seemed that God fought on our side, since with such a 
multitude of the enemy opposed to us, who discovered 
so great courage and skill in the use of arms, of which 
they had many kinds, we nevertheless came off unhurt. 
The same night I took up my quarters in a tower of 
idols that stood on a hill ; and before daylight I left in 
the camp two hundred men and all the artillery ; and in 
order to attack the enemy, I sallied forth with the horse 
and a hundred foot, together with four hundred Indians 
who had accompanied me from Cempoal, and three hun- 
dred from Yztacmestilan. Before they had time to col- 
lect their forces I destroyed five or six small villages of 
a hundred houses each, and took four hundred prisoners, 
including men and women. I then returned to the camp, 
fighting my way, but without suffering any loss. After- 
wards, at daylight, more than one hundred and forty- 
nine thousand men, who covered the land, made an at- 
tack in so determined a manner upon our camp, that 
some of them forced an entrance and engaged the Span- 
iards at the point of the sword ; when it pleased our 
Lord to afford us his aid to such a degree, that in four 
hours they no longer annoyed us in our camp, although 
they still continued their attacks. And thus we were 
engaged in fighting until evening, when the enemy at 
length drew off. 

8 



54 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

The next day I again sallied forth — though in a different 
direction, before it was light, without being observed by 
the enemy — with the horse, a hundred foot, and the 
friendly Indians, when I destroyed more than ten towns, 
one of which contained about three thousand houses, where 
we encountered the town's-people alone, the forces of 
the enemy not being present. As we carried the banner 
of the cross,* and fought for our faith and in the service 
of your Sacred Majesty, God in his glorious providence 
gave us so great a victory, that we destroyed many 
people without ourselves receiving any injury. Early 
in the afternoon, when the forces of the enemy were yet 
assembled from all quarters, we returned victorious to 
our camp. The following day there came messengers 
from the leading men, saying that they wished to become 
the vassals of your Highness, and my allies, and begged 
that I would pardon their past errors. They brought 
with them a quantity of provisions, and certain ornaments 
of feathers, held in high esteem among them. I answered 
them, that they had done wrong, but I was willing to be 
their friend, and to overlook their past actions. The 
next day there arrived about fifty Indians, who appeared 
to be persons of high standing among their countrymen, 
and declared that they had come to bring us provisions ; 
at the same time they examined carefully the passages 
leading to and from our camp, and certain huts we had 
erected for barracks. The Cempoallans came to me and 
said it was easy to see that these men were enemies, and 
had come as spies to find out how they could injure us. 



* One of the banners carried by Cortes is deposited in the office of the Sec- 
retary of the Government, and the other is in the Church of St. Francis, in 
Mexico ; the first represents the Virgin Mary, painted on damask, and the other, 
the cross. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 55 

and assured me that their visit was for no other purpose. 
I then caused one of them to be taken aside without the 
knowledge of the others, and retiring with him and the 
interpreters, I endeavored to compel him by threats to 
disclose the truth. He then confessed that SIntengal, 
[Xicotencatl] who was the Captain General of this Pro- 
vince, had taken a position behind the hills that were in 
front of the camp, with a numerous force, for the purpose 
of attacking us that night ; as they said that they had 
already tried an attack by day without any good effect, 
and they now desired to make the attempt by night, 
when their people would not have occasion to fear our 
horses, guns, or swords ; that he had accordingly sent 
them to observe our camp and the means of access to it, 
and how they could best destroy the huts of straw. 
Afterwards I took aside another of the Indians, and 
made similar inquiries, when he confessed almost in the 
same words as the other ; and I did the same with five 
or six others, all of whom confirmed the former state- 
ments. Seeing this, I ordered the fifty to be seized, and 
their hands to be cut off, and sent them back to their 
leader with this message : that both by night and day, 
and whenever he might come, they would see what we 
were. I then fortified my tent according to the best of 
my power, and placed my men within the works in the 
best manner possible, and thus was on my guard until 
sunset. As soon as it was dark the enemy began to de- 
scend through two valleys, thinking that they would 
come upon us unawares, and surround us, in order to 
execute their purpose, not knowing that I was so well 
informed of their movements. It seemed to me that to 
suffer them to reach the camp might be attended with 
danger, because at night they would be less intimidated 



56 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

from not seeing our means of defence ; and also that 
some of our men, not seeing the enemy, might be less 
resolute in fighting ; and I feared, too, that our works 
misfht be set on fire — in which case, besides the loss of 
our effects, none of our people could escape. I resolved, 
therefore, to sally forth to meet the enemy with all our 
cavalry, in order to arrest their progress, or by throwing 
them into confusion to prevent their reaching the camp. 
And thus it turned out, that when they perceived us ad- 
vancing against them with our cavalry, they fled with 
haste and in silence behind the fields of maize with which 
the country was filled, and abandoned the provisions they 
had brought for the purpose of making a feast of rejoicing 
in case they had succeeded in utterly destroying us. 
Thus they fled, and we remained in security that night. 
After this occurrence, I continued several days in camp, 
going but a short distance beyond its immediate pre- 
cincts for the purpose of stopping the approach of some 
Indians, who came shouting towards us to provoke a 
skirmish. 

Having enjoyed some repose, I made another descent 
upon the enemy by night, after going the rounds of the 
guards in the first quarter. I took with me one hundred 
foot, our Indian allies, and the cavalry ; but at the dis- 
tance of a league from the camp five of my horses gave 
out, and finding it impossible to urge them forward, I 
sent them back. Although all of the men wished me to 
return, considering this as a bad omen, I nevertheless 
pursued my route, with the reflection that God is over 
all. Before daylight I attacked several towns, contain- 
ing a large population ; but I did not destroy the houses 
lest the fire should alarm the other people who dwelt in 
the neighborhood. When the day had already dawned 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 57 

I attacked another place, which was so large that it con- 
tained, according to an examination that I caused to be 
made, more than twenty thousand houses. As I came 
upon it by surprise, the inhabitants rushed unarmed into 
the streets, the women and children being in a state of 
nudity, and we had begun to attack them when I dis- 
covered that they made no resistance, and certain of 
their leaders came to beg that I would stop hostilities, as 
they were desirous of becoming the vassals of your 
Highness and my allies. They confessed that they had 
done wrong in not having before placed confidence in 
me, but declared that henceforth I should see them wil- 
ling to execute whatever I commanded in your Majesty's 
name, as your true and faithful liege subjects. Imme- 
diately there joined me more than four thousand persons 
unarmed, and at a fountain outside of the town they 
brought us an abundance of provisions. Thus I left 
them in peace and returned to our camp, where I found 
the people who had remained very much alarmed, ima- 
gining that I had encountered great danger, in conse- 
quence of the return of the horses the night before. But 
when informed of the victory which it had pleased God 
to grant us, and that we had made friends of so many 
of the inhabitants, they were greatly rejoiced. Notwith- 
standing, I assure your Majesty, that there was scarcely 
one of us who did not feel some apprehension on finding 
ourselves so far in the interior of the country, and in the 
midst of so numerous and powerful a people, wdthout 
hope of succour from any quarter. So desperate was 
our situation, that I heard with my own ears the remark 
made among our men, in almost a public manner, that I 
was a Peter Carbonero, who had brought them into dan- 
gers from which they could not escape. And I even 



58 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

heard it said in a hut where several lodged together, 
(being where they could not see me,) that I was without 
doubt a madman, and would plunge myself into diffi- 
culties from which I could not be extricated ; that they 
should return to the sea, and if I chose to accompany 
them, well — ^but if not, they would leave me behind. 
And oftentimes I was entreated to return with renewed 
importunity, when I revived their courage by exhorting 
them to reflect, that they were the subjects of your High- 
ness, and Spaniards had never been known to falter in 
their allegiance ; that we had it in our power to acquire 
for your Majesty greater kingdoms and provinces than 
were to be found in any other part of the world. And 
besides, we were only doing what as Christians we were 
under obligations to do, by warring against the enemies 
of our faith — by which means we secured to ourselves 
glory in another world, and gained greater honor and 
rewards in this life than had fallen to the lot of any other 
generation at any former period ; that they should also 
reflect that God was on our side, and that to him nothing 
is impossible, as they might see in the victories we had 
gained, when so many of the enemy were killed without 
any loss on our part. These and similar things I said to 
them, by means of which, and the royal favor of your 
Highness, they recovered their spirits, and were induced 
to do what I desired, in order to complete what I had 
already begun. 

At ten o'clock on the following day, Sicutengal, [Xico- 
tencatl], Captain General of this Province, with about 
fifty of the principal persons belonging to it, came to me 
and solicited on the part of himself and of Magiscatzin,* 
who is the most important personage of the whole pro- 

* Governor of the Republic of Tlascala. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 69 

vince, and on behalf of many other caziques or chiefs, 
that I would admit them into the royal service of your 
Highness, and to my friendship, and would pardon their 
past errors, as they had not known us, nor understood 
who we were ; adding that they had already exerted 
their utmost strength, both by day and night, to avoid 
becoming subject to any power whatever; for at no 
period had this province ever been so, nor did it now 
own, nor had it at any former time acknowledged, a 
master ; that they had lived free and unrestrained from 
time immemorial to the present moment ; that they had 
always successfully defended themselves against the 
great power of Muteczuma, and his father and ances- 
tors, who had subjected the whole earth, but had never 
been able to reduce them to subjection, although they 
had hemmed them in on all sides, so that there was no 
passage left for them out of their own territory ; that 
they were deprived of the use of salt,* because it was not 
produced in any part of their country, nor were they 
able to go and procure it elsewhere ; and for the same 
reason they were destitute of cotton cloth, as the cotton 
plant does not grow with them on account of the coldness 
of the climate, as well as of many other things of which 
they were in want, by reason of their being confined 
within such narrow limits. Nevertheless, they preferred 
to suffer these privations, and considered it better for 
them, in order to enjoy their freedom and be subject to 
no one ; and that in regard to myself, their feelings were 

* The salt which the Indians use is called by them Tequesquit ; it is saltpetre, 
and is gathered on the surface of the ground at the present day for the same 
purpose, and also to be converted into gunpowder. An extensive commerce is 
carried on in this salt by the Mexicans of Yxtapaluca and Yxtapalapa, which 
means the places where salt or Yxtatl is gathered ; and at this day the people 
of Yxtapalapa are thus occupied. — L. 



60 IjETTBRS of CORTES. 

the same ; but that as they had already declared, they 
had tried their strength, and saw clearly that neither the 
force nor the skill that they had been able to command, 
profited them any thing, and they now sought to become 
the subjects of your Highness rather than perish and 
doom to destruction their houses, their women, and their 
children. I satisfied them by saying, that they well 
knew the losses they had sustained were entirely owing 
to themselves ; that I had entered their territory in the 
belief that I was coming among friends, for the Cem- 
poallans had assured me they were so, and wished to be 
so ; and that I had sent in advance my messengers to 
inform them that I was coming, and of the pleasure their 
friendship would afford me ; and that without returning 
me any answer, while I was approaching with apparent 
security, they had attacked me on the road, killed two 
of my horses, and wounded others ; and moreover, after 
fighting with me they had sent messengers, saying, that 
what had taken place was contrary to their wishes and 
consent, certain communities having made the move- 
ment without their participation, but that they had re- 
proved them for it, and desired my friendship. Believing 
this to be true, I had told them that it gave me pleasure, 
and that on the next day I would visit them in their 
abodes as friends ; and yet they had attacked me while 
on the way, and fought against me the whole day until 
the approach of night, notwithstanding I had earnestly 
desired peace. I also reminded them of all they had 
done to oppose my progress, and many other matters, 
which I omit to mention that I may not weary your 
Highness. Finally, they remained, and acknowledged 
themselves as subjects and vassals of your Majesty, 
offering their persons and their estates for your royal 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 61 

service. This they carried into effect, and have re- 
mained faithful to the present time ; and I believe they 
will always continue so, as yom- Majesty will hereafter 
see. 

I remained in my quarters and camp for six or seven 
days, as I dared not trust them ; but when they invited 
me to visit a large city* in which resided all the princi- 
pal men of the province, who came to urge me to make 
them a visit, saying that I should be better received and 
more abundantly supplied with what was necessary there 
than in camp ; and when they expressed their mortifi- 
cation that I should be so poorly lodged, considering me 
as a friend, and themselves as well as myself subjects of 
your Highness : in compliance with their request I went 
to the city, which was six leagues from my quarters and 
camp. This city is so extensive and so well worthy of 
admiration, that although I omit much that I could say 
of it, 1 feel assured that the little I shall say will be 
scarcely credited, since it is larger than Granada, and 
much stronger, and contains as many fine houses and a 
much larger population than that city did at the time of 
its capture ; and it is much better supplied with the pro- 
ducts of the earth, such as corn, and with fowls and 
game, fish from the rivers, various kinds of vegetables, 
and other excellent articles of food. There is in this 
city a market, in which every day thirty thousand peo- 
ple are engaged in buying and selling, beside many other 
merchants who are scattered about the city. The mar- 
ket contains a great variety of articles both of food and 
clothing, and all kinds of shoes for the feet ; jewels of 
gold and silver, and precious stones, and ornaments of 
feathers, all as well arranged as they can possibly be 

*' It still bears the name of Tlascala, though much decayed. 

9 



62 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

found in any public squares or markets in the world. 
There is much earthenware of every style and a good 
quality, equal to the best of Spanish manufacture.* Wood, 
coal, edible and medicinal plants, are sold in great 
quantities. There are houses where they wash and 
shave the head as barbers, and ^Iso for baths. Finally, 
there is found among them a well regulated police ; the 
people are rational and well disposed, and altogether 
greatly superior to the most civilized African nation. 
The country abounds in level and beautiful valleys, all 
tilled and sown, without any part lying unimproved. In 
its constitution of government that has existed until the 
present time, it resembles the states of Venice, Genoa, 
and Pisa ; since the supreme authority is not reposed in 
one person. There are many nobles, all of whom reside 
in the city ; the common people are laborers, and the 
vassals of the nobility, but each one possesses land of his 
own, some more than others. In war all unite and have 
a voice in its management and direction. It may be 
supposed that they have tribunals of justice for the pun- 
ishment of the guilty ; since when one of the natives of 
the province stole some gold of a Spaniard, and I men- 
tioned the circumstance to Magiscacin, the most powerful 
of the nobility, they made search for the thief, and traced 
him to a city in the neighborhood called Churultecal 
[Cholula], from whence they brought him prisoner, and 
delivered him to me with the gold, saying that I must 
have him punished. I acknowledged in suitable terms 
the pains they had taken in the matter, but remarked to 
them that since the prisoner was in their country, they 

* At this day earthenware is manufactured in the province of La 
Puebla, and it is the most highly prized for common use of any in the 
kingdom ; and in Guadalaxara are made earthen vessels of so elegant work- 
manship, that on special occasions they are exported to Spain. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 63 

should punish him according to their custom, and that I 
chose not to interfere with the punishment of their people 
while I remained among them. They thanked me, and 
taking the man, carried him to the great market, a town 
crier making public proclamation of his offence ; they 
then placed him at the base of a structure resembling a 
theatre, which stands in the midst of the market-place, 
while the crier went to the top of the building and with 
a loud voice again proclaimed his offence ; whereupon 
the people beat him with sticks until he was dead. We 
likewise saw many persons in prison who were said to 
be confined for theft and other offences they had com- 
mitted. There are in this province, according to a re- 
port made by my orders, five hundred thousand inhabit- 
ants, besides those in another small province adjacent 
to this, called Guazincango,* who live in the same man- 
ner, not subject to any native sovereign, and are not less 
the vassals of your Highness than the people of Tascal- 
teca [Tlascala]. 

During the time I was at war with this province, Most 
Catholic Sire, and while I was yet in camp, there came 
to me six lords, the principal vassals of Muteczuma, 
with about two hundred men in their train, and assured 
me that they came on the part of Muteczuma to inform 
me that he desired to become a subject of your Highness, 
and my friend ; and to satisfy me of the sincerity of his 
professions, he would yield to your Highness every year 
a tribute of gold and silver, precious stones, slaves, and 
cotton cloth, and such other things as he had ; that he 
would give all this, but that he desired I would not visit 
his dominions, because the country was very barren and 
destitute of the necessaries of life, and he should regret 

* Also written Huajocingo, and Huexotzinco ; a small republic. 



64 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

the privations that I and those who came with me would 
have to endure. He sent to me by the same persons 
almost a thousand pesos of gold, and large pieces of cot- 
ton cloth of the kind they wore. They remained with 
me during a great part of the war, until its close, and 
saw what the Spaniards were capable of doing ; they 
also knew the terms on which this province made peace 
with us, and the professions of allegiance to your Majesty 
on the part of the nobles and the whole land, as it ap- 
peared ; but they showed no signs of pleasure at these 
things, and labored in every possible way to prejudice 
me against this people, saying that there was no confi- 
dence to be placed in what they told me, nor any sin- 
cerity in their professions of friendship, which were only 
made to lull me into security, so that they could betray 
me with impunity. On the other hand, the inhabitants 
of this province would often caution me not to trust these 
vassals of Muteczuma, for they were traitors, and a\.~ 
ways acted treacherously and artfully, by which means 
they had subjugated the whole earth; and they warned 
me as true friends, and as persons who had long known 
those men, to beware of them. I was not a little pleased 
on seeing their want of harmony, as it seemed favorable 
to my designs, and would enable me to bring them more 
easily into subjection, according to the common saying, 
De Monte, Sfc. I likewise applied to this case the authority 
of the Evangelist, who says, " Every kingdom divided 
against itself shall be rendered desolate ;" and I dis- 
sembled with both parties, expressing privately my ac- 
knowledgments to both for the advice they gave me, and 
giving to each of them credit for more friendship towards 
me than I experienced from the other. 
After I had been twenty days or more in this city, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 65 

certain nobles, messengers of Muteczuma, who had been 
with me for some time, desired that I should visit a city 
six leagues distant from Tascaltecatl, called Churulte- 
cal, [Cholula,] because its inhabitants were friends of 
Muteczuma their sovereign, and that we should there 
learn his pleasure, whether I should be permitted to en- 
ter his dominions, and that some of their number in the 
mean time would go and confer with him for the purpose 
of informing him what I had said and return with his an- 
swer. Although they knew that messengers from Mu- 
teczuma had come to communicate with me, I promised 
them I would go and would set out on a particular day, 
which I designated. As soon as it was known to the 
Tlascalans that I had consented to accompany them to 
that city, the nobles came to me with much sorrow, and 
said that I must by no means go there, for they had 
formed treacherous designs to destroy me and my peo-- 
pie in that city, and that for this purpose Muteczuma had 
d-espatched from his country (a part of which was adja^ 
cent to that city) fifty thousand men whom he kept in 
garrison two leagues from the city, as they showed, and 
that they had blocked up the royal road by which they 
were accustomed to go and made a new one full of pits, 
and sharp stakes driven into the good and covered up, 
for the purpose of disabling the horses ; that they had 
placed obstructions in many of the streets, and heaps of 
stones on the flat roofs of their houses, that after we had 
entered their city in seeming security they might take us 
by surprise and do with us as they pleased ; that if I 
wished to have proofs of the correctness of their state- 
ments, I might notice that none of the nobles of that city 
had come to see me or to speak with me, although I was 
so near, but that a deputation had come for that purpose 



66 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

from Guasincaugo, which was farther off, and that I 
might send for the former and learn why they had not 
seen fit to come. I thanked them for their caution, and 
requested that they would furnish me with persons to 
send on this errand, to see why the people of that city 
had not come. They did so, and I sent to ask the no- 
bles of Cholula to make me a visit, as I wished to con- 
fer with them on behalf of your Majesty, and to set forth 
the causes of my arrival in this quarter. The messen- 
gers departed and gave my message to the nobles of that 
city, and there came back with them two or three persons of 
no great importance, who said they had come on behalf of 
those lords, as they were ill, and that I might say what I 
desired to them. The Tlascalans assured me it was all 
a farce, and that the messengers were people of little 
standing, adding that I must not think of going there un- 
less the nobles of the city came to see me. I addressed 
myself to these messengers, and said that having been 
sent as the ambassador of so powerful a prince as your 
sacred Majesty, I could not recognise such persons as 
them, and that even their greatest men were scarcely 
worthy of receiving my attention; therefore the latter 
must, within three days, appear before me to profess al- 
legiance to your Highness and submit themselves as 
your vassals, with the warning that if they did not come 
before I had passed their borders, I should march against 
them and destroy them as rebels who refused to submit 
to the government of your Majesty. And to this end I 
sent them a requisition, subscribed with my name and by 
the hands of a notary, with a full description of your 
sacred Majesty's royal person and of my arrival, stating 
to them that all these countries, and other lands of even 
greater extent, bebnged to your Highness; that those 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. '©7 

who chose to become your subjects were honored and 
favored, but those who rebelled were punished as justice 
required. The next day nearly all of the nobles of that 
city came, and declared to rae, that if they had not ap- 
peared before, the reason was that the people of this pro- 
vince were their enemies, and that they dared not enter 
their territory, as it was dangerous for them ; and that 
they fully believed the Tlascalans had spoken of them in 
such a way as to prevent my giving them credit, for they 
had spoken as enemies and not according to ihe truth ; 
that I should visit their city, where I would learn the 
falsity of what those persons had told me and the truth 
of their own statements ; that from henceforth they would 
do homage as vassals of your sacred Majesty, and would 
ever remain so, rendering service and contributing what- 
ever your Highness should command them ; to all which 
the notary, through my interpreters, took their formal ac- 
knowledgment. I determined to go with them, as well 
for the purpose of showing no weakness as because from 
their city I thought it would be easier to communicate 
with Muteczuma, since it adjoins his dominions, as I 
have already stated, and the people of both places were 
in the habit of coming and going to and from that city, 
there being no examination or search of travellers. 

When the Tlascalans saw my determination it grieved 
them much, and they repeatedly said to me, that I had 
committed an error ; but that since they had become the 
vassals of your Majesty and my friends, they would ac- 
company me and give me their assistance in whatever was 
required. But when I protested against their going, and 
begged that they would think of it, as there was no ne- 
cessity for it, they nevertheless followed me with a force 
of one hundred thousand men well versed in war, and 



68 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

attended me within two leagues of the city, when upon 
my urgent entreaty they returned, leaving with me, how- 
ever, five or six thousand men. I slept near a rivulet, 
which was two leagues from the city, in order to send 
back the people that they might give no offence in the 
city, and likewise because it was already evening and I 
did not wish to enter the city at night. The next morn- 
ing the people came forth from the city to receive me on 
the road, with many trumpets and kettle-drums, and a 
great nupiber of priests, clothed in their customary 
robes, and singing as they are wont to do in their tem- 
ples. In this solemn manner they escorted us into the 
city and assigned us excellent quarters, in which all my 
people were comfortably lodged. They also supplied 
us with provisions, though not in a bountiful manner. 
On the road we fell in with many of those marks of 
which we had been forewarned by the Tlascala-ns ; for 
we found the royal road blocked up and a new one 
opened, and also pits, though not many, and several 
streets of the city obstructed, and many piles of stones on 
the tops of the houses. These things placed us more on 
our guard and led us to exercise greater caution. 

I met there several envoys of Muteczuma, who had 
come to confer with those that had been with me ; and 
.they told me that they had only come to ascertain what 
the others had done and agreed upon, in order that they 
might return and report to their master. They accord- 
ingly departed, after having conferred with their coun- 
trymen, and the principal one of those that had been 
with me returned at the same time. During the three 
days that I was there, they provided very poorly for our 
wants, and each day worse than the former one ; and 
the nobles and principal men of the city very seldom 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 69 

came to see or to speak to me. Being somewhat per- 
plexed by this treatment, a female interpreter that I had, 
who was a native of this country,* and whom I obtained 
at Putunchan on the Rio Grande, (as I have already men- 
tioned in my former despatch,) was informed by another 
female, a native of this city, that a numerous force of 
Muteczuma lay very near the city, and that the inhabit- 
ants had carried out their wives and children and wear- 
ing apparel, as an attack was meditated that would de- 
stroy us all ; and that if she wished to save herself, she 
should go with her, as &he could protect her. My inter- 
preter told this to Geronimo de Aguilar, another inter- 
preter, whom I had obtained in Yucatan, of whom I also 
wrote to your Highness, and he gave me the informa- 
tion ; when I took one of the natives of the city, and drew 
him aside privately so that no one saw me, and interro- 
gated him on the subject j this man confirmed all that 
the Indian women and the natives of Tlascala had stated. 
Judging from this information, as well as the signs that 
I had observed, I determined to anticipate their move- 
ments, in order to prevent being taken by surprise ; and 
I sent for the nobles of the city, to whom I said that I 
wished to speak with them, and shut them in a room by 
themselves. In the mean time, I caused our people to 
be put under arms, and ordered them, when a gun was 
fired as a signal, to attack a crowed of Indians that had 
collected near my quarters, many of whom had entered 
within it. After I had shut up the nobles, I left them well 
secured, and mounting a horse, I caused the signal gun 
to be fired, and we made such execution that in two 
hours more than three thousand of the enemy perished. 

* Dona Marina, the most celebrated of Mexican women. 
10 



70 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

And that your Majesty may know how well prepared 
they were, before I sallied forth from our quarters they 
bad occupied all the stre:et3 with their forces and posted 
men in readiness for the attack, although as we took 
them by surprise they were easily routed, especially as 
they were without their leaders, whom I had already 
made prisoners; a-nd i set fire to several towers and 
strong houses^ from which they defended themselves and 
attacked us. Thus I scoured the city, fighting my way 
and leaving my quarters well secured, being of great 
strength, for five hours, until I had driven all the people 
out of the city, from' different points, in which I was as- 
sisted by five thousand Indians of Tascaltecal, and four 
hundred of Cempoal. On my return to our quarters, I 
addressed myself to the captive nobles, and demanded 
why they bad wished to betray and destroy me ? They 
answered, that it was not their fault, as the men of Culiia, 
[Mexico,] who were the vassals of Muteczama, had urged 
them t'O it, and that Muteczuma \Yas to have had within 
the distance of a league and a half from the city, as it 
afterwards appeared, a force of fifty thousand men for 
that puTpose. But as they saw that he had deceived 
them, if I would allow one or two of their number to de- 
part, they would collect the people of the eity and cause 
the women and children to return with their effects ; and 
they begged that I would pardon their mistake, declaring 
that henceforth they would- never deceive me, but prove 
true and loyal vassals of your Highness, and my friend s.^ 
After I had said a great deal to them in regard to their 
error I suffered two of them to go, and the next day the 
whole city was filled with men, women and childreny 
in as much security as if nothing had occurred ; and 
subsequently I set at liberty all the other chiefs upon 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 71 

their promise to serve your Majesty in the most loyal 
manner. At the expiration of about fifteen or twenty 
days I left the city and country, so peaceful and populous 
that nothing seemed to be wanting to it, either in its 
markets or the domestic trade which it had enjoyed be- 
fore. I also brought about a friendship between the 
people of Churultecal [Cholula] and of Tascaltecal, 
[Tlascala,] which had formerly existed until within a 
short period, when Muteczuma by presents had enticed 
the former into an aUiance with him and rendered them 
enemies to one another. This city of Churultecal is 
situated on a plain and contains about twenty thousand 
houses within the body of the town, and as many more 
in the suburbs. It is an independent state, and has its 
boundaries well defined ; not yielding obedience to any 
sovereign, but governed in the same way as Tascaltecal. 
The inhabitants are better clothed than the Tlascalans in 
some respects, as the superior classes of citizens all wear 
cloaks over their other dress ; similar in shape, material, and 
bordering, to those of Africa, but unlike them in being 
provided with pockets. Since the late troubles they have 
been and continue true and obedient vassals of your 
Majesty, performing whatever is required of them in your 
royal name, and I believe they will remain so hereafter. 
This state is very fertile under cultivation, as there is 
much land, most of which is well watered ; and the ex- 
terior of the city is more beautiful than any in Spain, as 
it contains many towers, and is situated upon a plain. 
And I assure your Majesty, that I have counted from a 
mosque or temple four hundred mosques and as many 
towers, all of which are of mosques in this city. This 
city is more suitable for the Spaniards to inhabit than 
any of the towns we have yet seen, as it has unoccupied 



72l LETTERS OF CORTES. 

lands and water for cattle, which none of the others have 
that we have seen ; and the multitude of people who 
dwell in the other places is so great, that there is not a 
hand's-breadth of land which is not .cultivated ; never- 
theless, in many of these places they suffer from want of 
bread, and there are many poor people who ask alms of 
the rich in the streets, and at the houses and markets, as 
is done by the mendicants in Spain and other civilized 
countries. 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 7^ 



CHAPTER IV. 

I SPOKE to the . envoys of Muteczuma who were 
with me concerning the treachery that had been prac- 
tised in Cholula, and said I had been informed by 
the leaders that it was done through the advice of Mu- 
teczuma ; but that it did not appear to me it could have 
been the act of so great a sovereign as he was, to send 
his messengers and noble persons to me, declaring that 
he was my friend, as he had done, and at the same time 
seeking means to attack me through others, in order that 
he might avoid censure in case the design did not suc- 
ceed. But since it was so, and he did not keep his word, 
nor adhere to the truth, I told them I should change my 
own purpose ; that until then it had been my intention to 
visit his country as a friend, to see and talk with him, 
and hold much peaceful intercourse with him ; but that 
now I should enter his dominions in the guise of war, 
doing all the injury that was in my power, as an enemy ; 
that I was sorry to adopt this course, as I preferred to 
have his friendship, and to take counsel of him in what- 
ever I had to do in this land. The envoys replied, that 
they had now been with me a long time, and that they had 
known nothing of any such understanding with the Cho- 
lulans, more than had been declared in that city since its 
submission, and they could not believe that it had taken 
place by the advice or command of Muteczuma ; and 
they entreated that before I renounced his friendship and 
made war upon him, I would inform myself of the truth, 
;and suffer one of their number to go and confer with him, 



74 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

as he could return very soon, the distance from this city to 
where Muteczuma resides being but twenty leagues. I 
told them that this would be agreeable to me, and I allow- 
ed one of them to go, who returned from thence in six 
days, accompanied by the other envoy who had gone pre- 
viously. They brought me ten pieces of gold plate, fifteen 
hundred pieces of cotton cloth, a great number of fowls, 
and a beverage, in common use among them, which is 
called panicap ;* and they informed me that Muteczuma 
had been much troubled on account of what had occurred 
at Churultecal, but that I must not believe it had been 
done by his advice or command, as he would prove to 
me with certainty that it was not so ; that the troops in 
the garrison near the city were, indeed, his, but that they 
had moved without his orders, at the instigation of the 
Cholulans, since there were two of his provinces border- 
ing upon Cholula, that had an alliance with that state on 
account of their proximity to it to aid one another ; one 
of them was called Acancigo, and the other Izcucan, 
[Acazingo and Izucar,] and that in this way they had 
gone there, and not by his orders ; that I should see by 
his actions whether what he had sent to communicate to 
me was true or not ; but nevertheless, that he begged me 
not to trouble myself to visit his country, as it was a bar- 
ren region, and the people were in a suffering condition ; 
and that he would send to me, wherever I was, to ascer- 
tain my wants, which he would supply in the most boun- 
tiful manner. I answered that I could not dispense with 
visiting his dominions, as I was obliged to transmit an ac- 
count of them, as well as of himself, to your Majesty ; 
that I fully believed what he had stated, by his envoys j 

* It may have been bread made of maize, as Herrera says, or a beverage 
called Atole, made of maize, water and sugar.— L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 75 

nevertheless, since I should not relinquish my purpose of 
seeing him, that it would be better it should be done in 
a friendly manner, and that no obstacles be thrown in 
my way, as otherwise it would be attended with injury 
to himself, and I should much regret any such occur- 
rence. As soon as he saw that it was my determined 
desire to visit him and his country, he sent to say that it 
was well ; that he should expect me in the great city where 
he was, and that several of his people would join me, 
as soon as I had entered his territory. These persons 
desired me to take a certain route,* on which they might 
contrive to have an attack made upon me, as it after- 
wards appeared ; since a number of Spaniards whom I 
afterwards sent through the country saw how it was ; I 
should have found on that route so many bridges and 
difficult passes, that as I went through it they would have 
been able to execute their designs with safety to them- 
selves. But as God has ever seen fit to guide your 
sacred Majesty from your infancy in the right way, and 
as I and those who accompanied me, were engaged in 
the royal service, another route was pointed out to us, 
somewhat rough, t indeed, but not so dangerous as the 
other, and this I took. 

Eight leagues from the city of Cholula are two very 
lofty and remarkable mountains ; in the latter part of 
August their summits are covered with snow ; and from 
the highest, by night as well as by day, a volume of 
smoke arises, equal in bulk to a spacious house ; it as- 
cends above the mountain to the clouds as straight as 
an arrow, and with such force, that although a very 
strong wind is always blowing on the mountain, it does 

* This route was through Calpulalpa. — L. 

t That of Rio Frio, along the side of the Sierra Nevada. — L. 



76 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

not turn the smoke from its course.* As I have desired 
to render your Highness a very minute account of every 
thing in this part of the world, I wished to ascertain the 
cause of this phenomenon, as it appeared to me, and I 
despatched ten of my companions, such as I thought 
suitable for this purpose, with several natives of the 
country for guides, charging them to use every endeavor 
to ascend the mountain and find out the cause of that 
smoke, whence and how it was produced. They went, 
and struggled with all their might to reach the summit, 
but were unable on account of the great quantity of 
snow that lay on the mountain, and the whirlwinds of 
ashes that swept over it, and also because they found 
the cold above insupportable ; but they reached very 
near the summit, and while they were there, the smoke 
began to issue forth with so much force and noise that 
it seemed as if the whole Sierra was crumbling to the 
ground ; so they descended, and brought with them a 
considerable quantity of snow and icicles, that we might 
see them, as it was something quite new in this region 
on account of its being in so warm a latitude, according 
to the opinion of our pilots, who place it in 20°, which 
is the same parallel as the Island of Espaiiola, where the 
heat is at all times extreme. While on their way to the 
mountain, the party discovered a road, and inquired of 
their Indian companions where it led, who told them to 
Culua, [Mexico,] and that it was a good road, while the 
other, which the Culuans wished us to take, was not a 
good one. The Spaniards followed this road until they 
began to ascend the mountain, between which and the 
other elevation it passed ; and from it they discovered 
the plains of Culua, and the great city of Temix- 

* The Indians call this volcano Popocatepetl, or the Mountain that smokes. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 77 

titan, [Mexico,] and the lakes in that province, of which 
I shall hereafter give your Highness an account ; 
they returned oveijoyed on having discovered so good a 
road, and God know^s how much joy I felt on the 
occasion. Having obtained all the information I could 
from the Spaniards who had returned from their visit 
to the mountain, as well as from the natives, con- 
cerning the road they had discovered, I addressed 
myself to the envoys of Muteczuma, who accompa- 
nied me as guides to their country, and said to them, 
that I would take the new route instead of that which 
they had recommended, as it was shorter. They 
answered that I was right, that the new route was 
shorter and more level, and that the reason they had not 
pointed it out to me was, that we should have to pass one 
day through the territory of Guasucingo, [Guajozingo,] 
whose inhabitants were their enemies, and would not 
furnish supplies, as was done in the territory of Mutec- 
zuma ; but that since I preferred that route, they would 
cause provisions to be sent in that direction. And thus 
we set forth, not without some apprehension that they 
would persist in their endeavors to entrap us ; but as 
we had already declared what route it was our intention 
to take, it did not seem to me worth while to change our 
plan, or to return on our steps, lest they should imagine 
that our courage failed us. On the day that I left 
the city of Cholula, I advanced four leagues to some 
villages in the state of Guasucingo, where we were 
well received by the natives, who gave me a num- 
ber of female slaves, some cotton cloth, and several 
small pieces of gold, amounting altogether to very little, 
as the people are not well supplied with it, on account 
of their belonging to the league and party of the Tlas- 

11 



78 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

calans, and being so closely hemmed in on all sides by 
the territory of Muteczuma, that they could have no 
trade with any other province but their own ; whence 
they lived very poorly. The next day I entered the 
•pass between the two mountains already mentioned, and 
in descending it we discovered the province of Chalco, 
in the territory of Muteczuma, two leagues from us, and 
when we had reached the inhabited parts, we found a 
newly constructed building for our quarters, and so 
large that all my men and myself were comfortably 
lodged in it, although I had with me more than four 
thousand Indians, natives of the provinces of Tascal- 
tecal, Guasucingo, Churultecal, and Cempoal, for all 
of whom there was an abundant supply of provisions ; 
and there were large fires in all the lodging-rooms, with 
a plenty of wood, as it was very cold on account of the 
proximity of the two mountains*, which were covered 
with snow. 

There came to me at this place several persons, ap- 
parently of some rank, among whom was one that I 
was told was a brother of Muteczuma. They brought 
me gold to the value of 3,000 pesos, and said on behalf 
of that sovereign, that he had sent me this present, and 
at the same time requested that I would retrace my steps, 
and not think of visiting his city, as the country was ill 
supplied with provisions, and the road that led to it was 
bad ^ and that the city was all on the water, so that I 
could not enter it except in canoes, and with many other 
inconveniences that would obstruct my course. They 
added, that I might have all that I asked, which Mutec- 
zuma, their sovereign, had commanded them to give 
me ; and that they would agree to pay me every year a 

* Popecatepetl and Iztaccihuatl, or Sierra Nevadsi 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 79 

certain sum {certum quid), which they would carry to 
the sea, or wherever I wished. I received them kindly, 
and spoke to them of our Spain, of which they had 
heard much, addressing myself especially to the one 
who was said to be a brother of Muteczuma. In answer 
to their official communication, I said, — that if it was in 
my power to return, I would do so to oblige Muteczuma; 
but that I had come into this country by the command 
of your Majesty, and that I was particularly charged to 
render an account of Muteczuma and his great city, of 
the fame of which your Highness had long since heard — 
that they might assure him from me, that I was ex- 
tremely desirous he should take my visit to him in good 
part, since it would be productive of no injury, but 
rather of advantage to his person and country ; that 
after I had seen him, if it was still his wish not to have 
my company, I would then return ; and that we should 
be better able to agree in person, as to the homage he 
should render to your Highness, than through the agency 
of others, however trustworthy they might be. With 
this answer they returned. Judging from the appear- 
ance of our quarters, and the arrangements made re- 
specting them, it struck me that the Indians intended 
to attack us that night ; but on perceiving this, I took 
such precautions as, coming to their knowledge, changed 
their determination ; and they drew off that night very 
secretly a large force, which they had placed in the 
mountains adjacent to our camp, as was observed by 
many of our scouts and sentinels. 

As soon as it was day I set out for a town two leagues 
distant, called Amaqueruca,* in the province of Chalco, 

* Now Amecameca. 



if LETTERS OF CORTES. 

which contains a population, including the villages within 
two leagues of it, of more than twenty thousand inhabit- 
ants. In this place they quartered us in the excellent 
houses of the. governor. Many persons, apparently of a 
superior raipik, here waited upon me, and announced that 
Muteczuma, their sovereign lord, had sent them to 
receive me at this place, with orders to provide every 
thing necessary to supply our wants. The governor of 
this province and town presented me with forty slaves* 
and 3000 castellanos, and during the two days that I was 
there supplied us with an abundance of provisions. The 
next day — accompanied by the envoys of Muteczuma 
who received us here- — I departed and reached for the 
night a small place four leagues distant, situated partly 
upon a great lake, and partly upon a roi^gh, rocky moun- 
tain, where we were well lodged. Here likewise they 
would have tried our strength, but that they desired to 
do so without danger to themselves, as it seemed, by 
attacking us in the night, when they expected to take us 
by surprise. But as I was well informed of their inten- 
tions, they found that I had anticipated their designs. 
That night I placed a strong guard, who took and killed 
fifteen or twenty spies that came in canoes on the lake, 
or descended the mountain to see whether I was pre- 
pared to resist an attack. Thus few of them returned 
to give the information they were sent to obtain ; and 
finding us always upon our guard, they concluded to 
change their plans, and to suffer us to proceed in safety. 
The next morning when I was about leaving that place, 
there arrived ten or twelve of the most distinguished 
personages, as I afterwards learned, and among them a 

* Slavery had been already introduced among the Mexicans, and the sons of 
those whom they had taken in war were reduced to a sort of servitude. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 81 

young man of about twenty-five years of age, to whom 
all showed particular marks of respect ; and after he had 
alighted from a litter in which he came, the others began 
to remove stones out of his path, and to clear up the 
ground before him.* As soon as they arrived they an- 
nounced that they had come on the part of Muteczuma, 
their liege lord, who had sent them to accompany me, 
and begged that I would pardon him for not coming him- 
self to receive me, which he was unable to do on account 
of indisposition ; but that the city was now near at hand, 
and as I was still determined to visit it, he would receive 
us there, when I should learn his willingness to do homage 
to your Highness. But, nevertheless, he entreated that 
if it was possible, I would not go to the city, for I should 
meet with much trouble and want, and he would be 
ashamed not to be able to provide for me there in the 
manner he wished. The envoys also earnestly insisted 
on the same thing, and were extremely importunate ; at 
the same time assuring me that they would protect us 
on the route if I persisted in proceeding. I made them 
a courteous reply, and calmed their anxiety by the 
mildest language in my power, giving them to under- 
stand that my visit would not be attended with injury, 
but advantage to Muteczuma. And thus they took their 
leave, after I had made them presents of some things 
that I had brought with me. I soon followed them, being 
accompanied by many persons who appeared to be of 
great consideration, as I afterwards learned was the 
case. As I was pursuing the road that led along the 
shore of the great lake, at the distance of a league from 
the place of our departure, I discovered upon the surface 

* At the present day the Indians preserve the custom of removing stones from 
the road when preceding any person of elevated rank, as I have noticed when 
going into the country attended by them. — L. 



82 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

of the water a small town, that might contain from one 
to two thousand inhabitants, well fortified and defended 
with towers, as it appeared on the outside, but without 
any entrance.* A league farther on we came to a cause- 
way of the width of a spear's length, running two thirds 
of a league into the lake, which led to a city that, although 
small, was the most beautiful we had yet seen, composed 
of well-constructed houses and towers, having the foun- 
dations laid with great regularity and wholly in the water. 
In this citj'', which contains about two thousand inhabit- 
ants, we were well received, and entertained with a 
handsome repast. The chief magistrate and other 
persons of rank came to see me, and requested that I 
would pass the night there. But some of Muteczuma's 
people who were with me advised me not to stop, but to 
go on to another city, three leagues distant, called Izta- 
palapa, belonging to a brother of Muteczuma, and I ac- 
cordingly did so. The road from the city where we had 
our repast, the name of which does not now occur to 
me, was by another causeway, which is a full league in 
length to terra firma. Having arrived at the city of 
Iztapalapa, the cacique came to receive me at some dis- 
tance from the town, together with another dignitary of 
a great city about three leagues off, called Calnaacan, 
[Culhuacan] accompanied by many other distinguished 
personages, who were expecting my arrival there, and 
presented me with 3 or 4000 castellanos, some slaves, 
and cotton cloth, giving me altogether a very agreeable 
reception. 

The city of Iztapalapa contains twelve or fifteen thou- 

* The cities of whicli mention is here made, are, first, Iztapaluca, which is 
next beyond Chalco on the road to Mexico ; then Thlahuac, Misquic, and Cul- 
huacdn, all of which are situated on the water. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 83 

sand houses ; it is situated on the shore of a large salt 
lake, one-half of it being built upon the water, and one- 
half on terra firma.* The governor or chief of the city 
has several new houses, which, although they are not yet 
finished, are equal to the better class of houses in Spain 
— being large and well constructed, in the stone work, 
the carpentry, the floors, and the various appendages 
necessary to render a house complete, excepting the re- 
liefs and other rich work usual in Spanish houses. There 
are also many upper and lower rooms — cool gardens, 
abounding in trees and odoriferous flowers ; also pools 
of fresh water, well constructed, with stairs leading to 
the bottom. There is also a very extensive kitchen gar- 
den attached to the house, and over it a belviderewith 
beautiful corridors and halls ; and within the garden a 
large square pond of fresh water,t having its walls 
formed of handsome hewn stone ; and adjacent to it 
there is a promenade, consisting of a tiled pavement so 
broad that four persons can walk on it abreast, and four 
hundred paces square, or sixteen hundred paces round ; 
enclosed on one side towards the wall of the garden by 
canes, intermingled with vergas, and on the other side by 
shrubs and sweet-scented plants. The pond contains a 
great variety offish and water-fowl, as wild ducks,| teal, 

* Iztapalapa preserves to this day the same name, and many remains of the 
houses here described by Cortes ; since in taking earth from the middle for bricks, 
several high platforms are seen on which buildings were erected to protect the 
inhabitants in case of an inundation. — L. 

t The site of this pond [alberca] is, at the present day, covered by the lake 
Tezcuco, but there are still seen the remains and fragments of the edifice de- 
scribed above.' — L. 

t Innumerable ducks and geese are at the present day killed on the lake in 
various ways ; one mode is with a large handgun, called by the Indians, Esme- 
ril ; another is, for the Indians to cover their heads with a hollow pumpkin, and 
concealing the body beneath the water, they seize the ducks with the hand ; an- 
other is, by taking them in nets during the night. — L. 



84 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and others so numerous that they often cover the sur- 
face of the water. The next day after my arrival at 
this city I departed on my route, and having proceeded 
half a league, I entered upon a causeway that extends 
two leagues through the centre of the salt lake, until it 
reaches the great city of Temixtitan, [INIexico,] which is 
built in the middle of the lake. This causeway is as 
broad as two spears' length, and well constructed, so 
that eight horsemen can ride on it abreast ; and within 
two leagues, on either side of this causeway, there are 
three cities, one of which, called Mesicalsingo, is built 
for the most part on the lake, and the two others, called 
Nyciaca and Huchilohuchico, are situated along its bor- 
ders, with many houses on the water. The former of 
these cities contains about three thousand families, the 
second more than six thousand, and the third four or 
five thousand ; in all of them are well built houses and 
towers, especially the residences of the governors and 
principal men, and the mosques or temples, in which 
they have their idols. In these cities there is a conside- 
rable trade in salt, which is manufactured from the 
water of the lake, and from a deposit on the grounds 
washed by the lake, which they boil in some way, and 
make into loaves, selling it to the natives and persons 
out of the district or province. 

I pursued my course over the abovementioned cause- 
way, and having proceeded half a league before arri- 
ving at the body of the city of Temixtitan, I found at 
its intersection with another causeway, which extends 
from this point to terra firma, a very strong fortress with 
two towers, surrounded by a double wall, twelve feet in 
height, with an embattled parapet, which commands 
the two causeways, and has only two gates, one for 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 86 

entering, and the other for dejDarture. There came to 
meet me at this place nearly a thousand of the principal 
inhabitants of the great city, all uniformly dressed ac- 
cording to their custom in very rich costumes ; and as 
soon as they had come within speaking distance, each 
one, as he approached me, performed a salutation in 
much use among them, by placing his hand upon the 
ground and kissing it ; and thus I was kept waiting 
about an hour, until all had performed the ceremony. 
Connected with the city is a wooden bridge ten paces 
wide, where the causeway is open to allow the water 
free ingress and egress, as it rises and falls ; and also for 
the security of the city, as they can remove the long 
and wide beams of which the bridge is formed, and re- 
place them whenever they wish; and there are many 
such bridges in different parts of the city, as your High- 
ness will perceive hereafter from the particular account 
I shall give of it. 

When we had passed the bridge, the Sefior Mutec- 
zuma came out to receive us, attended by about two 
hundred nobles, all barefooted and dressed in livery, 
or a peculiar garb of fine cotton, richer than is usually 
worn ; they came in two processions in close proximity 
to the houses on each side of the street,* which is very 
wide and beautiful, and so straight that you can see from 
one end of it to the other, although it is two thirds of a 
league in length, having on both sides large and elegant 
houses and temples. Muteczuma came through the 
centre of the street, attended by two lords, one upon 
his right, and the other upon his left hand, one of whom 

* The streets are so different at the present time, that we are unable to form a 
clear idea of what they then were, but this street seems to be the same that 
now crosses the city from the Hospital of St. Antonio. — L. 

12 



86 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

was the same nobleman who, as I have mentioned, came 
to meet me in a litter ; and the other was the brother of 
Muteczuma, lord of the city of Iztapalapa, which I had 
left the same day ; all three were dressed in the same 
manner, except that Muteczuma wore shoes, while 
the others were without them. He was supported on 
the arms of both, and as we approached, I alighted and 
advanced alone to salute him ; but the two attendant 
lords stopped me to prevent my touching him, and they 
and he both performed the ceremony of kissing the 
ground ; after which he directed his brother who accom- 
panied him to remain with me ; the latter accordingly 
took me by the arm, while Muteczuma, with his other 
attendant, walked a short distance in front of me, and 
after he had spoken to me, all the other nobles also came 
up to address me, and then went away in two proces- 
sions with great regularity, one after the other, and in 
this manner returned to the city. At the time I ad- 
vanced to speak to Muteczuma, I took off from myself a 
collar of pearls and glass diamonds,* and put it around 
his neck. After having proceeded along the street, one 
of his servants came bringing two collars formed of shell 
fish, enclosed in a roll of cloth, which were made from 
the shells of colored prawns or periwinkles, held by them 
in high estimation ; and from each collar depended 
eight golden prawns, finished in a very perfect manner, 
about a foot and a half in length.t When these were 
brought, Muteczuma turned towards me and put them 
round my neck ; he then returned along the street in the 



* Pearls and glass crystals, of great estimation with the Indians, who had 
never seen glass or crystal. — L. 

i They are still called prawns (camazones,) corresponding in some degree to 
strings of coral. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 87 

order already described, until he reached a very large 
and splendid palace, in which we were to be quartered, 
which had been fully prepared for our reception. He 
there tookjne by the hand and led me into a spacious 
saloon, in front of which was a court, through which we 
entered. Having caused me to sit down on a piece of 
rich carpeting, which he had ordered to be made for his 
own use, he told me to wait his return there,* and then 
went away. After a short space of time, when my 
people were all bestowed in their quarters, he returned 
with many and various jewels of gold and silver, feather- 
work, and five or six thousand pieces of cotton cloth, 
very rich and of varied texture and finish. After having 
presented these to me, he sat down on another piece of 
carpet they had placed for him near me, and being 
seated he discoursed as follows : — 
^^ " It is now a long time since, by means of written 
records, we learned from our ancestors that neither my- 
self nor any of those who inhabit this region were de- 
scended from its original inhabitants, but from strangers 
who emigrated hither from a very distant land ; and we 
have also learned that a prince, whose vassals they all 
were, conducted our people into these parts, and then 
returned to his native land. He afterwards came again 
to this country, after the lapse of much time, and found 
that his people had intermarried with the native inhabit- 
ants, by whom they had many children, and had built 
towns in which they resided ; and when he desired them 
to return with him, they were unwiUing to go, nor were 
they disposed to acknowledge him as their sovereign ; 
so he departed from the country, and we' have always 
heard that his descendants would come to conquer thiss 

* Tbey sat like Asiatics on the floor, in a recumbent posture, or on a carpet.— L. 



8S LETTERS OF CORTES. 

land, and reduce us to subjection as his vassals ; and 
according to the direction from which you say you have 
come, namely, the quarter where the sun rises, and from 
what you say of the great lord or king who sent you 
hither, we believe and are assured that he is our natu- 
ral sovereign, especially as you say that it is a long time 
since you first had knowledge of us. Therefore be 
assured that we will obey you, and acknowledge you 
for our sovereign in place of the great lord whom you 
mention, and that there shall be no default or deception 
on our part/^' And you have the power in all this land, 
I mean wherever my power extends, to command what 
is your pleasure, and it shall be done in obedience there- 
to, and all that we have is at your disposal. And since 
you are in your own proper land and your own house, 
rest and refresh yourselves after the toils of your journey, 
and the conflicts in which you have been engaged, which 
have been brought upon you, as I well know, by all the 
people from Punlunchan* to this place ; and I am aware 
that the Cempoallans and Tlascalans have told you 
much evil of me, but believe no more than you see with 
your own eyes, especially from those who are my 
enemies, some of whom were once my subjects, and 
having rebelled upon your arrival, make these state- 
ments to ingratiate themselves in your favor. These 
people, I know, have informed you that I possessed 
houses with walls of gold, and that my carpets and other 
things in common use were of the texture of gold ; and 
that I was a god, or made myself one, and many other 
such things. ^' The houses you see are of stone and lime 
and earth." And then he opened his robes and showed 

* Province of Potinchan, or Potonchdn, in Tabasco, now called Pueblo la 
Victoria. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 89 

his person to me, saying, " You see that I am composed 
of flesh and bone like yourselves, and that I am mortal, 
and palpable to the touch," at the same time pinching 
his arms and body with his hands ; " see," he continued, 
" how they have deceived you. It is true I have some 
things of gold, which my ancestors have left me ; all that 
I have is at your service whenever you wish it. I am 
now going to my other houses where I reside ; you will 
be here provided with every thing necessary for your- 
self and your people, and will suffer no embarrassment, 
as you are in your own house and country." I answer- 
ed him in respect to all that he had said, expressing my 
acknowledgments, and adding whatever the occasion 
seemed to demand, especially endeavorijig to confirm 
him in the belief that your Majesty was the sovereign 
they had looked for ; and after this he took his leave, 
and having gone, we were liberally supplied with fowls, 
bread, fruits, and other things required for the use of our 
quarters. In this way I was for six days amply provided 
with all that was necessary, and visited by many of the 
nobility. 

I mentioned, most Catholic Sire, at the commencement 
of this letter, that at the time I departed from the city of 
Vera Cruz in quest of this Senor Muteczuma, I left there 
one hundred and fifty men to erect a fort, which had 
been already begun ; and I also stated that I had left 
many towns and fortified places in the neighborhood of 
that city in subjection to the royal dominion of your 
Highness, and the inhabitants secure and decided in 
their allegiance to your Majesty. While I was in the 
city of Churultecal, [Cholula,] I received letters from 
the commander, whom I had stationed in my place at 
Vera Cruz, informing me that Qualpopoca, lord of the 



90 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

city of Almeria,* had sent messengers to announce that 
he desired to become a subject of your Highness, and if 
he had not appeared before, and still did not appear, to 
render that homage which it was his duty to yield, and 
to offer himself with all his territories as a vassal to your 
Majesty, the reason was, that he would be compelled to 
j)ass through his enemies' country, which he had not done 
in consequence of his apprehension of an attack from 
them ; but that if I would despatch to him four Spaniards, 
they might accompany him, and the people through whose 
lands they would have to pass, knowing for what pur- 
pose they came, would not molest them ; and thus he 
would be able to come to us at once. The captain, be- 
lieving that Qualpopoca was sincere in what he said, as 
many others had done the same thing, sent four Span- 
iards to him ; but when he had got them into his power, 
he ordered them to be put to death, in such a way that it 
might not appear to have been done through his means ; 
and thus two of them were killed, while the others effec- 
ted their escape across the mountains, though wounded. 
Thereupon the captain marched against the city of Al- 
meria with fifty Spaniards, two horsemen, and two 
pieces of fire-arms, and a force of from eight to ten thou- 
sand friendly Indians, with which he fought the inhabit- 
ants of that city and killed many of them, driving the 
rest away, and burning and destroying the city. The 
Indians who had accompanied him, being enemies to the 
Almerians, aided in the attack with great spirit and vigor. 
Qualpopoca himself, together with the other caciques, his. 
allies, who had come to his assistance, escaped by flight, 
and some prisoners who were taken in the city gave in- 

* So called by Cortes, but by the Mexicans, Nauthla. — L- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 91 

formation as to the people engaged in its defence, arid the 
cause of their killing the Spaniards that had been sent 
to them. They said that Muteczuma had ordered Qual- 
popoca and the others who had come there as his vassals, 
(for such they were,) that when I left the 'city of Vera 
Cruz, they should fall upon those who had rebelled and 
entered the service of your Highness; and that they 
should devise every means of destroying the Spaniards 
I had left there, so that they might not aid or favor us ; 
and that accordingly, in consequence of these orders, 
they had done so. 

Six days having passed, most powerful Prince, since 
I entered the great city of Temixtitan, and having seen 
some things in it, though but a few compared with what 
there was to be seen and noted, it seemed to me, judg- 
ing from these things, and from what I had observed of 
the country, that it would subserve the interests of your 
Majesty and our own security if Muteczuma was in my 
power, and not wholly free from restraint; in order 
that he might not be diverted from the resolution and 
willing spirit which he showed in the service of your 
Majesty, especially as we Spaniards were somewhat 
troublesome and difficult to please; lest feeling annoyed 
on any occasion, he should do us some serious injury, 
and even might cause all memory of us to perish, in the 
exercise of his great power. It also appeared to me 
that if he was under my control, all the other coun- 
tries that were subject to him would be more easily 
brought to the knowledge and service of your Majesty, 
as afterwards actually happened. I resolved, therefore, to 
take him and place him in my quarters, which were of 
great strength ; and revolving in my mind how this could 
be effected without occasioning any tumult or disturb- 



92 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

ance, I recollected what the officer whom I had left in 
command at Vera Cruz, had written me concerning the 
occurrences in the city of Almeria, which I have already 
related, and which, as he was informed, had all taken 
place in pursliance of orders from Muteczuma. Having 
used the precaution to station guards at the corners of 
the streets, I went to the palace of Muteczuma, as I had 
before often done to visit him ; and after conversing with 
him in a sportive manner on agreeable topics, and receiv- 
ing at his hands some jewels of gold, and one of his own 
daughters, together with several daughters of his nobles 
for some of my company, I then said to him, " that I had 
been informed of what had taken place in the city of 
Nautecal or Almeria, and of the fate of the Spaniards, 
who had been killed there ; that Qualpopoca alleged in 
defence of his conduct, that whatever he had done was 
in pursuance of orders from him, which, as his vassal, 
he could not disregard ; that I did not believe it was so, 
but nevertheless, in order to clear himself from the impu- 
tation, it seemed to me proper that he should send for 
Qualpopoca and the other principal men of that city, 
who had been concerned in the slaughter of the Span- 
iards, that the truth of the matter might be known, and 
those men punished, by which means he would satisfy 
your Majesty of his loyal disposition beyond all dispute ; 
lest instead of the rewards which your Majesty would or- 
der to be given him, the reports of these outrages might 
provoke your Majesty's anger against him, on account of 
his having commanded the injury to be done ; since I 
was well satisfied that the truth was contrary to what 
those men had declared." 

Immediately Muteczuma ordered certain of his follow- 
ers to be called, to whom he gave a small stone resem- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. $3 

bling a seal, which he wore upon his arm, and ordered 
them to go to the city of Almeria, which is sixty or 
seventy leagues from Mextitan, [Mexico,] and conduct 
Qualpopoca hither ; and having ascertained what others 
were concerned in the murder of the Spaniards, to have 
them come likewise ; that if they refused to come volun- 
tarily, they should be brought as prisoners ; and if they 
resisted, they should call upon the communities adjacent 
to that city, which he indicated to them, for an armed 
force to assist in taking the offenders ; and that they 
should by no means return without them. These per- 
sons departed at once, and when they had gone, I said 
to Muteczuma, that I was pleased with his diligence in 
this matter, since I should have to render an account to 
your Majesty of the Spaniards who had been killed. As 
for what remained of my duty in the premises, I must 
have him in my quarters until the truth was more clearly 
ascertained, and himself shown to be free from blame ; 
and I begged him to suffer no uneasiness on this account, 
as he would not be treated as a prisoner, but left in the 
full possession of his liberty ; that no obstacle should be 
interposed to his enjoying the service of his followers, 
who would continue to be at his command ; that he 
might select an apartment, such as would please him, in 
the palace I occupied, where he would be at his ease ; 
that he might rest assured that nothing should be allow- 
ed to give him pain or inconvenience ; and that in addi- 
tion to his own servants, my companions would cheer- 
fully obey all his commands. Much conversation and 
discourse followed in regard to this arrangement, too 
long to be described at length, and even to be repeated 
to your Majesty, being not only prolix, but scarcely ma- 
terial to the case ; and, therefore, I shall say no more 

13 



94 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

than that, finally, he expressed his willingness to go with 
me. He immediately gave orders to have the apart- 
ment he wished to occupy put in order for his use, which 
was well situated and handsomely fitted up; and this 
being done, many nobles came to him, stripped of their 
robes, which they carried hanging upon their arms, and 
bare-footed, bringing a litter, not in the best order, on 
which, with tears in their eyes, they placed him in deep 
silence ; and in this manner we proceeded to the quar- 
ters which I occupied, without exciting any commotion 
in the city, although some signs of a disturbance began to 
appear. But as soon as Muteczuma heard of it, he sent 
orders forbidding any movement ; and thus all remained 
quiet as before, and continued so during the whole time 
that Muteczuma was my prisoner, since he was entirely 
at his ease, with the same attendance that he had been 
accustomed to in his own palace, which was very large 
and splendid, as I shall hereafter relate ; and I and my 
companions did every thing in our power to gratify his 
wishes. 

Fifteen or twenty days after his imprisonment, the 
messengers arrived that Muteczuma had sent in quest 
of Qualpopoca and the others concerned in the murder 
of the Spaniards ; and they brought with them that chief 
and his sons, together with fifteen persons who were 
said to be men of rank, and implicated in the affair. 
Qualpopoca was brought on a litter, much in the style 
of a governor, as in fact he was. They were delivered 
into my hands, and I caused them to be placed under a 
strong guard ; and when they acknowledged that they 
had killed the Spaniards, I directed them to be asked if 
they were the vassals of Muteczuma ? Qualpopoca re- 
plied — " If I have any other sovereign, who is it ?" as 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 95 

much as to say that he had no other, and that they were 
his vassals. I also inquired if what had been done by 
them was by his command ? They answered, no ; al- 
though afterwards, when the sentence of death by burn- 
ing was about to be executed upon them, they all with 
one voice declared that Muteczuma had sent to command 
it to be done, and that they had acted in pursuance of 
his orders. So they were publicly burned in a square 
of the city, without creating any disturbance ; and on 
the day of their execution, as they confessed that Mutec- 
zuma had directed them to kill the Spaniards, I caused 
him to be put in irons, which threw him into great con- 
sternation. On the same day, however, after having 
spoken to him, I caused his irons to be removed, and 
left him quite satisfied ; and from that time I exerted 
myself to gratify his wishes, and render him contented 
by all means in my power. I publicly announced and 
declared to all the natives of the country, as well to the 
governors as to the people who came to me, that your 
Majesty's service would be promoted by Muteczuma's 
remaining at the head of his government, only acknow- 
ledging your Majesty's superiority, and that your Ma- 
jesty would be pleased by their obeying and respect- 
ing Muteczuma as their sovereign, as they had done be- 
fore my arrival in the country. Such was the kindness 
of my treatment towards him, and his own contentment 
with his situation, that when at different times I tempt- 
ed him with the offer of his liberty, begging that he 
would return to his palace, he as often replied that he 
was well pleased with his present quarters, and did not 
wish to leave them, as he wanted nothing that he was 
accustomed to enjoy in his own palace ; and that in 
case he went away, there would be reason to fear the 



■^ LETTERS OP CORTES. 

importunities of the local governors, his vassals, might 
lead him to act against his own wishes, and in opposi- 
tion to your Majesty, while he desired in every possible 
manner to promote your Majesty's service ; that so far 
he had informed them what he desired to have done, 
and was well content to remain where he was ; and 
should they wish to suggest any thing to him, he could 
answer that he was not at liberty, and thus excuse him- 
self from attending to them. Several times he asked 
permission to visit his pleasure-houses for the purpose 
of recreation, both within the city and without, and in 
no instance was his request denied. He often made an 
excursion, attended by five or six Spaniards, one or two 
leagues out of the city, and always returned in fine 
spirits to his quarters where I had placed him ; and 
whenever he went out, he made many presents of jew- 
els and cotton cloth, both to the Spaniards by whom he 
was accompanied, and to his own people, who followed 
him in such numbers that there were never less than 
three thousand men in his retinue, most of whom were 
nobles and persons of distinction ; and he always gave 
many banquets and entertainments to those who ac- 
companied him, which they considered worth relating. 

When I discovered that Muteczuma was fully devo- 
ted to the service of your Highness, I requested him 
that, in order to enable me to render a complete account 
to your Majesty of the productions of the country, he 
would point out to me the mines from which gold was 
obtained ; to which he consented with the greatest rea- 
diness, saying that it would give him pleasure to do so. 
He immediately sent for several of his public servants, 
and assigned them to four provinces, two to each province, 
in which he said the gold was obtained ; and he asked 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. , 97 

me to allow some of the Spaniards to go with them, that 
they might observe the manner in which gold was pro- 
cured ; and I accordingly deputed two Spaniards for 
the same number of his own men. One party of them 
went to a province called Cuzula, eighty leagues from 
the great city of Temixtitan, whose inhabitants are vas- 
sals of Muteczuma, where they were shown three rivers, 
from all of which they brought me specimens of gold, of 
a good quality, although procured with little trouble, and 
without any other instruments than those used by the 
Indians. On their route they passed through three pro- 
vinces, that, according to the report of the Spaniards, 
contained very fine land, many villages and cities, with 
much scattered population, and buildings equal to any in 
Spain. They mentioned particularly a house and castle, 
the latter larger, of greater strength, and better built 
than the castle of Burgos ; and the people of one of these 
provinces, called Tamazulapa,* were better clothed 
than those of any other we had seen, as it justly appear- 
ed to them. Another party of our envoys went to a 
province called Malinaltebeque, [in Oaxaca,] which is 
also seventy leagues from the great city, but more to- 
wards the seacoast. They brought me specimens of 
gold from a great river that passes through it. The 
other party visited a regior^ beyond this river, inhabited 
by a people speaking a different language from those of 
Culua, and called Tenis ; whose chief ruler is named 
Coatelicamar.t His territory is situated on a lofty and 
rough mountainous range, with a population inured to 
war, who fight with spears of twenty-five to thirty 
palms length ; he is independent of Muteczuma. The 

* In Oaxaca. 

t This was tlie Lord of Tenich, which is the river abo-ve Maninaltepec— L. 



9S LETTERS OF CORTES. 

messengers with the Spaniards did not dare enter this 
province, as it was not subject to Muteczuma, without 
first notifying the governor, and asking his permission, 
announcing that they had come with certain Spaniards 
to see the gold mines that were in his country, for whom 
they requested a favorable reception in my name and 
that of Muteczuma, their lord. Coatelicamar answered, 
that he was very willing the Spaniards should enter his 
province and see the mines, with any thing else they 
pleased ; but that the Culuans, who were subjects of 
Muteczuma, must not do so, as they were his enemies. 
The Spaniards were somewhat at a loss whether to go 
alone or not ; their companions advised them not to go, 
as they would be put to death, alleging that it was for 
the purpose of being able to destroy them, that he would 
not consent to the Culuans accompanying them. At 
length, however, they resolved to go alone, and were 
well received by the governor and his people, wh© 
showed them seven or eight mines from which they said 
gold was procured ; and in their presence some of the 
Indians got out a quantity of the precious metal, of which 
specimens were brought to me. Coatelicamar sent by 
these Spaniards several messengers, offering himself and 
his land to the service of your Majesty, and accompany- 
ing his professions with presents of gold and cotton cloth. 
The other party of envoys visited a province called Tu- 
chitebeque, on the same route, towards the sea, twelve 
leagues from the province of Malinaltebeque, where I 
have already said gold was found, and there they were 
shown two other streams, from which also they obtained 
specimens of gold. 

The Spaniards who went to the Province of Malinal- 
tebeque, informed me that it contained every convenience 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 99 

for establishing farming stations, and procuring gold ; on 
this account I requested Muteczuma to establish a plan- 
tation there for your Majesty. He accordingly set to work 
for this purpose with so much diligence, that within two 
months from the time I spoke to him on the subject, six- 
ty fanegas of maize, and ten of beans were planted, to- 
gether with two thousand cacoa trees,* which bear a 
fruit resembling the almond, that is sold after being 
ground, and is held in such estimation, that it is used as 
money throughout all the country, and employed in pur- 
chases in the markets and every where else.t He had 
also erected four very good houses, in one of which be- 
side the apartments there was a pool of water, in which 
they placed five hundred geese, there held in high esti- 
mation, as they make a profitable use of their feathers, 
which they strip off every year and weave into thin 
cloth. They also placed there fifteen hundred domestic 
fowls ; and altogether the improvements were valued by 
Spaniards who saw them at different times, exclusively 
of the soil, at 20,000 pesos of gold. I likewise inquired 
of Muteczuma if there were on the coast of the sea any 
river or bay into which ships could enter, and lie with 
safety. He answered that he did not know, but that he 
would cause a chart of the coast to be painted, showing 
the rivers and bays, and that I might send Spaniards to 
examine them, for which purpose he would despatch 
suitable persons with them as guides ; and he did so. 
The next day they brought me a chart of the whole 
coast, painted on cloth ; on which appeared a river that 

* This is the Cacao, of which chocolate is made. — L. 

t Even at the present day it is common in shops to give cacoa seeds in place 
of copper money, vphen the amount is less than a silver coin of the value of half 
a real, or six cents. — L. 



100 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

discharged into the sea, with a wider mouth, according 
to the chart, than any others ; this seemed to be between 
the mountains called Sanmyn, which extend to a bay un- 
til then believed by the pilots to separate the land at a 
province called Mazamalco.* Muteczuma told me that 
I might select whom I would wish to send, and that he 
would provide the means for their examining and ascer- 
taining every thing ; I immediately designated ten men, 
and among them several pilots and persons acquainted 
with the sea. Being furnished with the provision he 
made for them, they departed, and proceeded along the 
coast from the port of Chalchilmeca, called San Juan, 
where I first landed,t for sixty leagues and upwards, 
without finding any river or bay where ships could en- 
ter ; although there were many large ones on the coast, 
which they sounded in canoes ; and in this manner they 
arrived at the province of Quacalco abovementioned, 
[Mazamalco,] where was the river represented on the 
chart. The governor of this province, named Tuchin- 
tecla, received them well, and furnished them with ca- 
noes to explore the river. They found two fathoms and 
a half of water at its entrance, in the shallowest part, 
and ascending twelve leagues, the least depth they found 
was five or six fathoms ; judging from their observations, 
it was thought that the river continued for thirty leagues 
of the same depth. There were numerous and large 
towns on its banks, and the whole province was level, 
and well fortified, rich in all the productions of the earth, 
and containing a numerous population, who are not vas- 
sals or subjects of Muteczuma, but rather his enemies. 

* Now written Guazacualco, or Huasasalco, south of Vera Cruz. This passage 
is quoted by Humbolt, Nouv. Esp. 1. v., c. xii. 
t The present Vera Cruz. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 101 

The governor of the country, when the Spaniards arri- 
ved there, ordered that the Mexicans should not enter his 
territory, because they were his enemies ; and when our 
people returned to me with this account, he sent several 
persons in their company, by whom he transmitted to 
me jewels of gold, skins of tigers, feathers, precious 
stones, and cotton cloth ; and they informed me from 
him, that Tuchintela, their sovereign, had heard of me 
a long time ago, for the people of Putunchan, or the river 
of Grijalva,* who were his friends, had told him of my 
passing through their country, and making war upon them, 
because they opposed my entrance into their town ; and 
how afterwards we left them as friends and vassals of 
your Majesty. He also offered himself and his whole 
province to the service of your Majesty, and begged me 
to receive him as a friend, on condition that the Mexicans 
should not enter his country, giving me liberty to exam- 
ine all it contained, and of choosing whatever I pleased 
for your Majesty's use, of which he would yield an an- 
nual tribute. 

When I was informed by the Spaniards that the pro- 
vince they had visited, was in a situation to be colonized, 
and that they had discovered a harbor in it, I was much 
gratified ; since from the time that I had first set foot in this 
country, I had constantly sought to find some harbor 
upon its coast, where I might found a settlement, but I 
had not been able to discover one, nor is there any on 
all the coast, from the river San Antonio, which is next 
the Grijalva, to that of Panuco, which is down the coast, 
where certain Spaniards under Francisco de Garay, 
went for the purpose of establishing a colony, as I shall 

* This river still preserves its name, but takes that of Tobasco at its 
mouth. — ^L. 

14 



XQSl LETTERS OF CORTES. 

hereafter relate to your Majesty.* In order to satisfy 
myself in relation to the province, the harbor, and the 
good will of the natives, I resolved to send thither certain 
of my company, who would be able to judge of the 
country from their observation and experience. They 
went in company with the messengers that the Lord Tu- 
chintecla had sent to me, carrying several things that I 
sent to him as presents. Having arrived there, they 
were well received by him, and applied themselves to 
survey and sound the port and river, and to examine the 
sites the place afforded for a town. They afterwards 
brought me a full and correct report of their observa- 
tions, and declared that every thing requisite for a set- 
tlement was to be found there. The governor himself 
was gratified, and expressed a great desire to become a 
vassal of your Majesty. As soon as they had returned, 
I despatched a captain with one hundred and fifty men 
for the purpose of tracing, planning and settling the town, 
and erecting a fortress, as the governor had consented 
to it, and offered whatever was necessary, or they might 
require for the purpose ; and he even built six houses on 
the spot selected for the town, and said that he was very 
well pleased that we should go there to found a colony, 
and dwell upon his land. 

I have, in the preceding pages, most powerful Sire, 
stated that at the time I entered the great city of Temix- 
titan, a great lord had met me on my route who came on 
behalf of Muteczuma ; and according to what I after- 
wards learned, he was a near relative of that monarch, 
possessing a province next to that of Muteczuma, and 



* The commercial town of Tampico is now situated at the mouth of the river 
Panuco. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 103 

called Haculuacan.* The capital of it was a veiy large 
city, adjacent to the salt lake ; it is six leagues distant from 
the city of Temixtitan, as the canoes go by the lake, and 
ten leagues by land. The name of the city was Tezcu- 
co, and it contained about thirty thousand families. 
There are in it. Sire, splendid houses, mosques, or tem- 
ples, and oratories of great magnitude, and well fin- 
ished. The markets are also very extensive ; and be- 
sides this city, there are two others, one three leagues 
from Tezcuco, called Acuruman,t and the other six 
leagues, called Otumpa. Each of these contains three or 
four thousand families. This province and seignory of 
Haculuacan has numerous other villages and hamlets, 
and excellent lands, well cultivated. It borders on one 
side upon that of Tascaltecal, of which I have already 
spoken to your Majesty. The governor, who is named 
Cacamazin, after the imprisonment of Muteczuma, re- 
belled, both against your Majesty, to whom he professed 
allegiance, and against Muteczuma. Although he was 
several times summoned to come and render obedience 
to your Majesty's commands, he never would. Beside 
the requisitions I made of him, Muteczuma also sent his 
commands to him, to which he answered, that if they 
wanted any thing of him they should go to his country, 
where they should see what he was, and what service he 
was obliged to perform. I was told that he had a large 
force of armed men in readiness at a moment's warning. 
As neither by demonstrations nor requisitions was I able 
to induce him to yield, I spoke to Muteczuma, and asked 
his advice what it was best for us to do, in order that we 
might not leave his rebellion unpunished. He answered, 

* The province of Culhuacdn. t Now Oculma. 



104 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

that should we resolve on war, it would be attended with 
much danger, as he was a great lord, and possessed 
much strength and many people ; and he could not be 
attacked without the risk of great destruction of life. 
But that there were several of the principal persons of 
Cacamazin who resided in Mexico at his charge, and 
that he would speak to them on the subject, in order to 
induce some of Cacamazin' s followers to come to Mexi- 
co, and thus being secured, they might favor our attempt, 
and their master be taken without risk. And so it turn- 
ed out ; Muteczuma laid his plans in such a manner, 
that a number of his leading men persuaded Cacamazin 
to meet them in the city of Tezcuco, for the purpose of 
taking measures in relation to the affairs of the state, (in 
which their station entitled them to a voice,) and who 
were grieved by the course he was pursuing, which would 
involve the ruin of the country. Accordingly they as- 
sembled in a splendid palace of Cacamazin, situated 
near the shore of the lake, which was built in such a 
manner that canoes could pass under it, and from thence 
issue forth upon the lake. At that place a number of 
boats were stationed, properly manned and equipped, in 
case Cacamazin should offer any resistance when taken. 
While he was consulting with his chiefs, they seized 
him, and before it was discovered by his attendants, they 
secured him in a boat, and launched out upon the lake, 
directing their course to the great city, which, as I have 
already stated, was six leagues distant. Having arrived 
there, they placed him on a litter, as his condition re- 
quired, and they had been accustomed to do, and brought 
him to me ; I immediately caused him to be put in irons, 
and to be carefully guarded. Having advised with Mu- 
feczuma, I conferred the government of the province on 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 106 

his son, called Cucuzcasin, in the name of your Majesty ; 
and I directed all the communities and lords of the pro- 
vince to obey him as their ruler, until your Majesty 
should order otherwise. Accordingly, from that time he 
was recognized and obeyed as their sovereign, in the 
same manner as Cacamazin had been ; and he also 
obeyed all the commands that I imposed on him in your 
Majesty's name. 

A few days after the imprisonment of Cacamazin, 
Muteczuma called together all the governors of the 
neighboring cities and states, and when they were as- 
sembled, he sent an invitation to me to join them ; on 
my arrival, he addressed them as follows ; " My bre- 
thren and friends, you know that for a long period you, 
your fathers, and ancestors have been the subjects and 
vassals of my predecessors and myself, and that both 
by them and me you have been always well treated and 
honored. You have also done all that is due from good 
and loyal vassals to their liege lords ; and I also believe 
that you have heard from your ancestors, that they were 
not natives of this land, but that they came to it from a 
great distance, under the conduct of a sovereign whose 
subjects they all were ; he left them here, but after a 
considerable time he returned, and found that our an- 
cestors had become numerous and well established in 
this country, having intermarried with the women of the 
land, by whom they had many children. On this ac- 
count they were unwilling to go back with him, or to 
acknowledge him as their sovereign ; whereupon he 
■went away, saying that he would return, or send so 
great a force as would compel them to submit to him. 
You knew well that we have always looked for him ; 
and according to what this captain has told us of the 



106 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

king and lord, who has sent him here, and also consi- 
dering the quarter from which he says he has come, I 
hold it certain, and you must be of the same opinion, 
that this is the sovereign that we have expected ; espe- 
cially as he informs us, that he had some knowledge of 
us there. And since our predecessors did not render 
their just service to their sovereign lord, let us perform 
our duty ; and let us render thanks to our gods, that he, 
who was so long expected by them, has come in our 
day. I must, therefore, entreat, since all this is well 
known to you, that hereafter, instead of regarding me as 
your sovereign, you will recognise and obey that great 
king, as he is our natural ruler, and receive this his 
captain in place of him ; and all the tributes and ser- 
vices which till now you have rendered to me, you will 
hereafter render and yield to him, as I likewise contri- 
bute and yield all that he requires of me ; and thus be- 
sides performing your duty, you will gratify and oblige 
me." 

All this he said weeping, with more tears and sighs 
than becomes a man to exhibit ; and likewise all the 
princes who were presejpit wept so much, that for a long 
time they were unable to answer. And I assure your 
sacred Majesty that there was not a Spaniard who heard 
the discourse, that did not feel great compassion. After 
their grief had abated, they answered, that they re- 
cognized him as their sovereign, and had engaged to do 
whatever he might command ; and that on this account, 
as well as for the reasons he had assigned, they were 
willing to act as he required ; and that, from henceforth 
forever, they declared themselves the vassals of your 
Majesty, and all, and each for himself, would there pro- 
mise, and did promise, to do and fulfil all that was com- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 107 

manded in the name of your Majesty as became good 
and loyal vassals ; and to aid with tribute and services 
as they had heretofore done for Muteczuma, and as was 
their duty, together with whatever else might be re- 
quired of them in the name of your Majesty. All this 
passed in the presence of a public notary, and was con- 
firmed by a formal act ; as well as by the testimony of 
many of our countrymen whom I had requested to be 
present. 

After this solemn act and acknowledgment on the 
part of these lords towards your Majesty, I one day 
spoke to Muteczuma and said that your Highness need- 
ed gold for certain works that he had ordered to be 
completed, and I wished him to send some of his peo- 
ple, and I would send some of mine, to the lands and 
abodes of those lords who had submitted themselves on 
that occasion, to ask them to supply your Majesty with 
some part of what they possessed ; since besides the 
necessity your Majesty had for the gold, it would serve 
as a beginning of their fealty, and your Highness would 
form a better opinion of their disposition to render him 
service by such a demonstration ; and I also requested 
that he himself would give me what gold he had, as 
well as other things, in order that I might transmit them 
to your Majesty. He immediately requested that I 
would designate the Spaniards whom I wished to send 
on this business, and he distributed them two by two, 
and five by five, among many provinces and cities, the 
names of which I do not recollect, the records having 
perished, as they were numerous and different, some 
eighty, some one hundred leagues from the great city of 
Temixtitan ; and with them he sent some of his own 
people, and directed them to go to the governors of pro- 



108 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

vinces and cities, and say that I commanded each one 
of them to give a certain proportion of gold, which he 
prescribed. Accordingly all those caciques to whom he 
sent contributed freely what he demanded of them, as 
well jewels as plates and leaves of gold and silver, and 
whatever else they possessed ; and melting down all 
that admitted it, we found that the fifth part belonging to 
your Majesty amounted to 32,400 pesos of gold and up- 
wards, without reckoning the jewels of gold and silver, 
the feather-work, and precious stones, together with 
many other valuable articles that I set apart for your 
sacred Majesty, worth more than 100,000 ducats. These 
besides their monied value, were of so costly and curious 
workmanship, that considering their novelty and won- 
derful beauty, no price could be set on them ; nor is it 
probable that any one of all the princes of the world to 
whose knowledge they might come, could produce any 
articles of equal splendor. It may seem to your Majes- 
ty like a fabulous story, but it is true, that all the natu- 
ral objects, both on sea and land, of which Muteczuma 
has any knowledge, are imitated in gold and silver, as 
well as in precious stones and feathers, in such perfec- 
tion that they appear almost the same. He gave me 
numerous specimens of many of these for your Highness, 
besides other things of which I had given him drawings, 
which he caused to be wrought in gold, such as images, 
crucifixes, medals, jewels, and necklaces, together with 
many other articles, of which he had imitations made. 
They assigned to your Majesty a fifth part of the silver, 
amounting to one hundred marks and upwards, which at 
my request the natives worked up into large and small 
dishes, porringers, cups, and spoons ; and they made 
them as perfectly as they could understand their form 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 109 

from our description. Beside these, Muteczuma gave 
me a large quantity of his cotton stuff, which, consider- 
ing it was cotton without silk, could not be equalled in 
the whole world, either in texture, or in the variety and 
beauty of the colors, or in the workmanship. It com- 
prised male and female apparel of remarkable elegance ; 
ornamental hangings for bed-chambers, superior beyond 
comparison to those made of silk ; together with other 
fabrics of cotton, as tapestries, designed for halls and 
temples ; counterpanes, composed of feathers interwoven 
with cotton, and extremely beautiful j and many other 
articles, so numerous and ingenious, that I am unable to 
describe them to your Majesty. He also presented me 
with a dozen serbatans, used by himself for shooting, 
made with such admirable skill that they also exceed 
my power of description.* There were depicted on them 
a great variety of birds, animals, trees, flowers, and va° 
rious other objects ; the rims and extremities, of the 
width of a span, as well as the centre, were inlaid with 
gold, and curiously carved. To these he added a pouch 
of gold net-work, intended to contain the pellets or little 
balls, usually formed of clay, but which he said he would 
give me of gold ; and also moulds of the same precious 
metal, for making the pellets j together with an infinite 
variety of other things. 

* Serbatans, or cerbottanes, according to Clavigero, are long tubes or pipea, 
through which they shoot little balls at birds, &c., by blowing with the mouth. 



15 



110 LETTERS OF CORTES. 



CHAPTER V. 

In order, most potent Sire, to convey to your Majesty a 
just conception of the great extent of this noble city of 
Temixtitan, and of the many rare and wonderful objects 
it contains ; of the government and dominions of Mutec- 
zuma, the sovereign ; of the religious rites and customs 
that prevail, and the order that exists in this as v^i^ell as 
other cities appertaining to his realm : it would re- 
quire the labor of many accomplished writers, and much 
time for the completion of the task. I shall not be able 
to relate an hundredth part of what could be told re- 
specting these matters ; but I will endeavor to describe, 
in the best manner in my power, what I have myself 
seen ; and imperfectly as I may succeed in the attempt, 
I am fully aware that the account will appear so won- 
derful as to be deemed scarcely worthy of credit ; since 
even we who have seen these things with our own eyes, 
are yet so amazed as to be unable to comprehend their 
reality. But your Majesty may be assured that if there 
is any fault in my relation, either in regard to the present 
subject, or to any other matters of which I shall give your 
Majesty an account, it will arise from too great brevity 
rather than extravagance or prolixity in the details ; and 
it seems to me but just to my Prince and Sovereign to 
declare the truth in the clearest manner, without saying 
any thing that would detract from it, or add to it. 

Before I begin to describe this great city and the others 
already mentioned, it may be well for the better under- 
standing of the subject to say something of the configu- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. HI 

ration of Mexico,* in which they are situated, it being 
the principal seat of Muteczuma's power. This Pro- 
vince is in the form of a circle, surrounded on all sides 
by lofty and rugged mountains ; its level surface com- 
prises an area of about seyenty leagues in circumference, 
including two lakes, that overspread nearly the whole 
valley, being navigated by boats more than fifty leagues 
round. One of these lakes contains fresh, and the other, 
which is the larger of the two, salt water. On one side 
of the lakes, in the middle of the valley, a range of high- 
lands divides them from one another, with the exception 
of a narrow strait which lies between the highlands and 
the lofty sierras. This strait is a bow-shot wide, and 
connects the two lakes ; and by this means a trade is 
carried on between the cities and other settlements on 
the lakes in canoes without the necessity of travelling 
by land. As the salt lake rises and falls with its tides 
like the sea, during the time of high water it pours into 
the other lake with the rapidity of a powerful stream j 
and on the other hand, when the tide has ebbed, the 
water runs from the fresh into the salt lake. 

This great city of Temixtitan [Mexico] is situated in 
this salt lake, and from the main land to the denser parts 
of it, by whichever route one chooses to enter, the dis- 
tance is two leagues. There are four avenues or en- 
trances to the city, all of which are formed by artificial 
causeways, two spears' length in width. The city is as 
large as Seville or Cordova ; its streets, I speak of the 
principal ones, are very wide and straight; some of these, 
and all the inferior ones, are half land and half v/ater, 

* Cortes applies this name to the Province in which the city, called by him 
Temixtitan, more properly Tenochtitlan, but now Mexico, was situated. See 
Humboldt, Nouv. Esp. 1. i. c. i. 



lis LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and are navigated by canoes.' All the streets at inter- 
vals have openings, through which the water flows, cross- 
ing from one street to another ; and at these openings, 
some of which are very wide, there are also very wide 
bridges, composed of large pieces of timber, of great 
strength and well put together ; on many of these bridges 
ten horses can go abreast. Foreseeing that if the inha- 
bitants of this city should prove treacherous, they would 
possess great advantages from the manner in which the 
city is constructed, since by removing the bridges at the 
entrances, and abandoning the place, they could leave 
us to perish by famine without our being able to reach 
the main land — as soon as I had entered it, I made great 
haste to build four brigantines, which were soon finished, 
and were large enough to take ashore three hundred men 
and the horses, whenever it should become necessary. 

This city has many public squares, in which are situ- 
ated the markets and other places for buying and selling. 
There is one square twice as large as that of the city of 
Salamanca, surrounded by porticoes, where are daily 
assembled more than sixty thousand souls, engaged in 
buying and selling ; and where are found all kinds of 
merchandise that the world affords, embracing the ne- 
cessaries of life, as for instance articles of food, as well 
as jewels of gold and silver, lead, brass, copper, tin, pre- 
cious stones, bones, shells, snails, and feathers. There 
are also exposed for sale wrought and unwrought stone, 
bricks burnt and unburnt, timber hewn and unhewn, of 
different sorts.' There is a street for game, where every 
variety of birds found in the country are sold, as fowls, 
partridges, quails, wild ducks, fly-catchers, widgeons, tur- 
tle-doves, pigeons, reedbirds, parrots, sparrows, eagles, 
hawks, owls, and kestrels ; they sell likewise the skins 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 113 

of some birds of prey, with their feathers, head, beak, 
and claws. There are also sold rabbits, hares, deer, 
and little dogs, which are raised for eating and castrated. 
'^''^ There is also an herb street, where may be obtained all 
sorts of roots and medicinal herbs that the country af- 
fords. There are apothecaries' shops, where prepared 
medicines, liquids, ointments, and plasters are sold ; 
barbers' shops, where they wash and shave the head = 
and restaurateurs, that furnish food and drink at a cer 
tain price. There is also a class of men like those 
called in Castile porters, for carrying burthens. Wood 
and coals are seen in abundance, and brasiers of earthen- 
ware for burning coals ; mats of various kinds for beds, 
others of a lighter sort for seats, and for halls and bed- 
rooms. There are all kinds of green vegetables, espe- 
cially onions, leeks, garlic, watercresses, nasturtiuiu 
borage, sorel, artichokes, and golden thistle ; fruits aL, 
of numerous descriptions, amongst which are chern.^-j 
and plums, similar to those in Spain ; honey and w ; :: 
from bees, and from the stalks of maize, which are as 
sweet as the sugar-cane ; honey is also extracted from 
the plant called maguey,* which is superior to sweet or 
new wine ; from the same plant they extract sugar and 
wine, which they also sell. Different kinds of cotton 
thread of all colors in skeins are exposed for sale in one 
quarter of the market, which hag the appearance of the 
silk-market at Granada, although the former is supplied 
more abundantly. Painters' colors, as numerous as can 
be found in Spain, and as fine shades ; deerskins dressed 
and undressed, dyed different colors ; earthenware of a 

* This is the plant known in this country under the name of the Century Plant, 
which is still much cultivated in Mexico for the purposes mentioned by Cortes. 
It usually flowers when eight or ten years old. 



114 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

large size and excellent quality ; large and small jars, 
jugs, pots, bricks, and an endless variety of vessels, all 
made of fine clay, and all or most of them glazed and 
painted ; maize, or Indian corn, in the grain and in the 
form of bread, preferred in the grain for its flavor to that 
of the other islands and terra-firma ; pates of birds 
and fish ; great quantities of fish, fresh, salt, cooked and 
uncooked ; the eggs of hens, geese, and of all the other 
birds I have mentioned, in great abundance, and cakes 
made of eggs ; finally, every thing that can be found 
throughout the whole country is sold in the markets, 
comprising articles so numerous that to avoid prolixity, 
and because their names are not retained in my memory, 
or are unknown to me, I shall not attempt to enumerate 
them. Every kind of merchandise is sold in a particular 
street or quarter assigned to it exclusively, and thus the 
best order is preserved. They sell every thing by num- 
ber or measure ; at least so far we have not observed 
them to sell any thing by weight. There is a building 
in the great square that is used as an. audience house, 
where ten or twelve persons, who are magistrates, sit 
and decide all controversies that arise in the market, and 
order delinquents to be punished. In the same square 
there are other persons who go constantly about among 
the people observing what is sold, and the measures 
used in selling ; and they have been seen to break mea- 
sures that were not true. 

This great city contains a large number of temples,* 
or houses for their idols, very handsome edifices, which 
are situated in the different districts and the suburbs ; 

* The original has the word mezquitas, mosques ; but as that term is applied 
in English exclusively to Mahometan places of worship, one of more general 
application is used in the translation. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 115 

in the principal ones religious persons of each particular 
sect are constantly residing, for whose use beside the 
houses containing the idols there are other convenient 
habitations. All these persons dress in black, and never 
cut or comb their hair from the time they enter the 
priesthood until they leave it ; and all the sons of the 
principal inhabitants, both nobles and respectable citi- 
zens, are placed in the temples and wear the same dress 
from the age of seven or eight years until they are taken 
out to be married ; which occurs more frequently with 
the first-born who inherit estates than with the others. 
The priests are debarred from female society, nor is any 
woman permitted to enter the religious houses. They 
also abstain from eating certain kinds of food, more at 
some seasons of the year than others. Among these 
temples there is one which far surpasses all the rest, 
whose grandeur of architectural details no human tongue 
is able to describe ; for within its precincts, surrounded 
by a lofty wall, there is room enough for a town of five 
hundred families. Around the interior of this enclosure 
there are handsome edifices, containing large halls and 
corridors, in which the religious persons attached to the 
temple reside. There are full forty towers, which are 
lofty and well built, the largest of which has fifty steps 
leading to its main body, and is higher than the tower of 
the principal church at Seville. The stone and wood of 
which they are constructed are so well wrought in every 
part, that nothing could be better done, for the interior 
of the chapels containing the idols consists of curious 
imagery, wrought in stone, with plaster ceilings, and 
wood-work carved in relief, and painted with figures 
of monsters and other objects. All these towers are tbe 
burial places of the nobles, and every chapel in them is 



116 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

dedicated to a particular idol, to which they pay their 
devotions. 

There are three halls in this grand temple, which con- 
tain the principal idols ; these are of wonderful extent 
and height, and admirable workmanship, adorned with 
figures sculptured in stone and wood ; leading from the 
halls are chapels with very small doors, to which the 
light is not admitted, nor are any persons except the 
priests, and not all of them. In these chapels are the 
images or idols, although, as I have before said, many 
of them are also found on th*e outside ; the principal 
ones, in which the people have greatest faith and confi- 
dence, I precipitated from their pedestals, and cast them 
down the steps of the temple, purifying the chapels in 
which they had stood, as they were all polluted with 
human blood, shed in the sacrifices. In the place of 
these I put images of Our Lady and the Saints, which 
excited not a little feeling in Muteczuma and the in- 
habitantSj who at first remonstrated, declaring that if my 
proceedings were known throughout the country, the peo- 
ple would rise against me ; for they believed that their 
idols bestowed on them all temporal good, and if they 
permitted them to be ill-treated, they would be angry 
and withhold their gifts, and by this means the people 
would be deprived of the fruits of the earth and perish 
with famine. I answered, through the interpreters, that 
they were deceived in expecting any favors from idols, 
the work of their own hands, formed of unclean things ; 
and that they must learn there was but one God, the 
universal Lord of all, who had created the heavens and 
the earth, and all things else, and had made them and 
us ; that he was without beginning and immortal, and 
they were bound to adore and believe him, and no other 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 117 

creature or thing. I said every thing to them I coiald to 
divert them from their idolatries, and draw them to a 
knowledge of God our Lord. Muteczuma replied, the 
others assenting to what he said, " That they had al- -j- 
ready informed me they were not the aborigines of the 
country, but that their ancestors had emigrated to it 
many years ago ; and they fully believed that after so 
long an absence from their native land, they might have 
fallen into some errors ; that I having more recently ar- 
rived must know better than themselves what they 
ought to believe ; and that if I would instruct them in 
these matters, and make them understand the true faith, 
they would follow my directions, as being for the best." 
Afterwards, Muteczuma and many of the principal citi- 
zens remained with me until I had removed the idols, 
purified the chapels, and placed the images in them, 
manifesting apparent pleasure ; and I forbade them sa= 
crificing human beings to their idols, as they had been 
accustomed to do ; because, besides being abhorrent in 
the sight of God, your sacred Majesty had prohibited it 
by law, and commanded to put to death whoever should 
take the life of another. Thus, from that time, they re- 
frained from the practice, and during the whole period 
of my abode in that city, they were never seen to kill or 
sacrifice a human being. 

The figures of the idols in which these people believe 
surpass in stature a person of more than the ordinary 
size ; some of them are composed of a mass of seeds and 
leguminous plants, such as are used for food, ground and 
mixed together, and kneaded with the blood of human 
hearts taken from the breasts of living persons, from 
which a paste is formed in a sufficient quantity to form 
large statues. When these are completed they make 

16 



118 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

them offerings of the hearts of other victims, which they 
sacrifice to them, and besmear their faces with the blood. 
For every thing they have an idol, consecrated by the 
use of the nations that in ancient times honored the same 
gods. Thus they have an idol that they petition for vic- 
tory hywar ; another for success in their labors ; and so 
for every thing in which they seek or desire prosperity, 
they have their idols, which they honor and serve. 

This noble city contains many fine and magnificent 
houses ; v/hich may be accounted for from the fact, that 
all the nobility of the country, who are the vassals of 
Muteczuma, have houses in the city, in which they reside 
a certain, part of the year ; and besides, there are numer- 
ous wealthy citizens who- also possess fine houses. All 
these persons, in addition to the large and spacious apart- 
ments for ordinary purposes, have others, both upper and 
lower, that contain conservatories of flowers. ^'"^ Along 
one of the causeways that lead into the city are laid two 
pipes, constructed of masonry, each of which is two 
paces in width,, and about five feet in height. An abun- 
dant supply of excellent water, forming a volume equal 
in bulk to the human body, is conveyed by one of these 
pipes, and distributed about the city, where it is used by 
the inhabitants for drinking and other purposes. The 
other pipe, in the mean time, is kept empty until the 
former requires to be cleansed, when the water is let 
into it and continues to be used till the cleansing is 
finished. As the water is necessarily carried over 
bridges on account of the salt water crossing its route, 
reservoirs resembling canals are constructed on the 
bridges, through which the fresh water is conveyed. 
These reservoirs are of the breadth of the body of an 
ox^ and of the same length as the bridges. The whole 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 119 

city is thus served with water, which they carry in canoes 
through all the streets for sale, taking it from the aque- 
duct in the following manner : the canoes pass under the 
bridges on which the reservoirs are placed, when men 
stationed above fill them with water, for which service 
they are paid. At all the entrances of the city, and in 
those parts where the canoes are discharged, that is, 
where the greatest quantity of provisions is brought in, 
huts are erected, and persons stationed as guards, who 
receive a cerium quid of every thing that enters. I know 
not whether the sovereign receives this duty or the city, 
as I have not yet been informed ; but I believe that it 
appertains to the sovereign, as in the markets of other 
provinces a tax is collected for the benefit of their cacique. 
In all the markets and public places of this city are seen 
daily many laborers and persons of various employ- 
ments waiting for some one to hire them. The inhabit- 
ants of this city pay a greater regard to style in their 
mode of living, and are more attentive to elegance of 
dress and politeness of manners, than those of the other 
provinces and cities ; since, as the Cacique* Muteczuma 
has his residence in the capital, and all the nobility, his 
vassals, are in the constant habit of meeting there, a 
general courtesy of demeanor necessarily prevails. But 
not to be prolix in describing what relates to the affairs 
of this great city, although it is with difficulty I refrain 
from proceeding, I will say no more than that the man- 

* The title invariably given to Muteczuma (or Montezuma) in these Des- 
patches, is simply Senor, in its sense of Lord, or (to use an Indian word) Cacique ; 
which is also given to the chiefs or governors of districts or provinces, 
whether independent or feudatories. The title of Emperador (Emperor), now 
generally applied to the Mexican ruler, is never conferred on him by Cortes, nor 
any other implying royalty, although in the beginning of this Despatch he as- 
sures Charles V. that the coimtry is extensive enough to constitute an empire. 



l^P LETTERS OF CORTES. 

ners of the people, as shown in their intercourse with one 
another, are marked by as great an atttention to the pro- 
prieties of hfe as in Spain, and good order is equally well 
observed ; and considering that they are a barbarous 
people, without the knowledge of God, having no inter- 
course with civilized nations, these traits of character are 
worthy of admiration. 

In regard to the domestic appointments of Muteczu- 
ma, and the wonderful grandeur and state that he main- 
tains, there is so much to be told, that I assure your 
Highness, I know not where to begin my relation, so as 
to be able to finish any part of it. For, as I have already 
stated, what can be more wonderful, than that a barba- 
rous monarch, as he is, should have every object found in 
his dominions imitated in gold, silver, precious stones, 
and feathers; the gold and silver being wrought so 
naturally as not to be surpassed by any smith in the 
world ; the stone work executed with such perfection 
that it is difficult to conceive what instruments could 
have been used ; and the feather work superior to the 
finest productions in wax or embroidery. The extent of 
Muteczuma's dominions has not been ascertained, since 
to whatever point he despatched his messengers, even 
two hundred leagues from his capital, his commands 
were obeyed, although some of his provinces were in the 
midst of countries with which he was at war. But as 
nearly as I have been able to learn, his territories are 
equal in extent to Spain itself, for he sent messengers to 
the inhabitants of a city called Cumatan, (requiring them 
to become subjects of your Majesty,) which is sixty 
leagues beyond that part of Putunchan watered by the 
river Grijalva, and two hundred and thirty leagues dis- 
tant from the great city ; and I sent some of our people 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 121 

a distance of one hundred and fifty leagues in the same 
direction. All the principal chiefs of these provinces, espe- 
cially those in the vicinity of the capital, reside, as I 
have already stated, the greater part of the year in that 
great city, and all or most of them have their oldest sons 
in the service of Muteczuma. There are fortified places 
in all the provinces, garrisoned with his own men, where 
are also stationed his governors and collectors of the 
rents and tribute, rendered him by every province ; and 
an account is kept of what each is obliged to pay, as 
they have characters and figures made on paper that 
are used for this purpose. Each province renders a 
tribute of its own peculiar productions, so that the sove- 
reign receives a great variety of articles from different 
quarters. ^^ No prince was ever more feared by his sub- 
jects, both in his presence and absence. He possessed 
out of the city as well as within, numerous villas, each of 
which had its peculiar sources of amusement, and all were 
constructed in the best possible manner for the use of a 
great prince and lord. Within the city his palaces were 
so wonderful that it is hardly possible to describe their 
beauty and extent ; I can only say that in Spain there 
is nothing equal to them. '^ 

There was one palace somewhat inferior to the rest, 
attached to which was a beautiful garden with balconies 
extending over it, supported by marble columns, and hav- 
ing a floor formed of jasper elegantly inlaid. There were 
apartments in this palace sufficient to lodge two princes 
of the highest rank with their retinues. There were 
likewise belonging to it ten pools of water, in which 
w^ere kept the different species of water birds found in 
this country, of which there is a great variety, all of 
which are domesticated ; for the sea birds there were 



122 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

pools of salt water, and for the river birds, of fresh wa- 
ter. The water is let off at certain times to keep it pure, 
and is replenished by means of pipes. Each species of 
bird is supplied with the food natural to it, which it feeds 
upon when wild. Thus fish is given to birds that usu- 
ally eat it ; worms, maize, and the finer seeds, to such 
as prefer them. And I assure your Highness, that to 
the birds accustomed to eat fish there is given the enor- 
mous quantity of ten arrobas* every day, taken in the 
salt lake. The emperor has three hundred men whose 
sole employment is to take care of these birds ; and there 
are others whose only business is to attend to the birds 
that are in bad health. ' 

Over the pools for the birds there are corridors and 
galleries, to which Muteczuma resorts, and from which 
he can look out and amuse himself with the sight of 
them. There is an apartment in the same palace in 
which are men, women and children, whose faces, bodies, 
hair, eyebrows, and eyelashes are white from their birth. 
The emperor has another very beautiful palace, with a 
large court-yard, paved with handsome flags, in the 
style of a chess-board.^ There were also cages, about 
nine feet in height and six paces square, each of which 
was half covered with a roof of tiles, and the other half 
had over it a wooden grate, skilfully made. Every cage 
contained a bird of prey, of all the species found in 
Spain, from the kestrel to the eagle, and many unknown 
there. There was a great number of each kind ; and in 
the covered part of the cages there was a perch, and an- 
other on the outside of the grating, the former of which 
the birds used in the night time, and when it rained ; and 
the other enabled them to enjoy the sun and air. To all 

* Two hundred and fifty pounds weight. 



CONCiUEST OF MEXICO. 123 

these birds fowls were daily given for food, and nothing 
else. There were in the same palace several large halls 
on the ground floor, filled with immense cages built of 
heavy pieces of timber, well put together, in all or most 
of which were kept lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, and a 
variety of animals of the cat kind, in great immbers, 
which were also fed on fowls. The care of these ani- 
mals and birds was assigned to three hundred men. 
There was another palace that contained a number of 
men and women of monstrous size, and also dwarfs, and 
crooked and ill-formed persons, each of which had their 
separate apartments. These also had their respective 
keepers. As to the other remarkable things that the em- 
peror had in his city for his amusement, I can only say 
that they were numerous and of various kinds. 

He was served in the following manner. Every day 
as soon as it was light, six hundred nobles and men of 
rank were in attendance at the palace, who either sat, 
or walked about the halls and galleries, and passed their 
time in conversation, but without entering the apartment 
where his persan was. The servants and attendants of 
these nobles remained in the court-yards, of which there 
were two or three of great extent, and in the adjoining 
street, which was also very spacious. They all re- 
mained in attendance from morning tilt night; and when 
his meals were served, the nobles were likewise served 
with equal profusion, and their servants and secretaries 
also had their allowance. Daily his larder and wine- 
cellar were open to all who wished to eat and drink. 
The meals were served by three or four hundred youths, 
who brought on an infinite variety of dishes ; indeed, 
whenever he dined or supped, the table was loaded with 
every kind of flesh, fish, fruits, and vegetables, that the 



124 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

country produced. As the climate is cold, they put a 
^y, chafing-dish with live coals under every plate and dish, 
to keep them warm. The meals were served in a large 
hall, in which Muteczuma was accustomed to eat, and 
the dishes quite filled the room, which was covered with 
mats and kept very clean. He sat on a small cushion 
curiously wrought of leather. During the meals there 
were present, at a little distance firom him, five or six 
elderly caciques, to whom he presented some of the food. 
And there was constantly in attendance one of the ser- 
vants, who arranged and handed the dishes, and who 
received from others whatever was wanted for the sup- 
ply of the table. Both at the beginning and end of every 
meal, they furnished water for the hands ; and the nap- 
kins used on these occasions were never used a second 
time ; this was the case also with the plates and dishes, 
which were not brought again, but new ones in place of 
them ,• it was the same also with the chafing-dishes. He 
is also dressed every day in four different suits, entirely 
new, which he never wears a second time. None of the 
caciques who enter his palace have their feet covered, 
and when those for whom he sends enter his presence, 
they incline their heads and look down, bending their 
bodies ; and when they address him, they do not look 
him in the face ; this arises from excessive modesty and 
reverence. I am satisfied that it proceeds from respect, 
since certain caciques reproved the Spaniards for their 
boldness in addressing me, saying that it showed a want 
of becoming deference. Whenever Muteczuma appear- 
ed in public, which was seldom the case, all those who 
accompanied him, or whom he a:ccidentally met in the 
streets, turned away without looking towards him, and 
others prostrated themselves until he had passed. One 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 126 

of the nobles always preceded him on these occasions, 
carrying three slender rods erect, which I suppose was 
to give notice of the approach of his person. And when 
they descended from the litters, he took one of them in 
his hand, and held it until he reached the place where 
he was going. So many and various were the ceremo- 
nies and customs observed by those in the service of 
Muteczuma, that more space than I can spare would be 
required for the details, as well as a better memory than 
I have to recollect them ; since no sultan or other infi- 
del lord, of whom any knowledge now exists, ever had 
so much ceremonial in their courts. 



17 



12C LETTERS OF CORTES. 



CHAPTER VI. 

I REMAINED in this great city for the purpose of pro- 
viding whatever the service of yoar Sacred Majesty 
required, and was engjiged in establishing peace and 
an acknowledgment of your authority amongst numerous 
provinces and districts, containing a vast population, 
many large cities, towns, and castles, and in the dis- 
covery of mines ; ascertaining and seeking information 
of whatever relates to the local affairs of the countries 
belonging to the jurisdiction of Muteczuma, as well as 
others bordering thereupon and known to him. The 
extent and wonderful productiveness of these regions are 
quite incredible ; and both Muteczuma and the native 
inhabitants promote my views with as much readiness 
and good will as if they had recognized ab initio your 
Sacred Majesty as their natural lord and sovereign ; and 
they do witli the same cheerfulness all things that I com- 
mand ihem in your Majesty's name. 

In these concerns and others of no less advantage to 
the service of your Royal Highness, I was employed 
from the eighth of November, 1519, till the beginning of 
the present month of May, [1520,] when, being quietly 
established in this metropolis, sending out parties of 
Spaniards in various directions, promoting the peace and 
settlement of the country, and awaiting with impatience 
the return of the ships with your Majesty's answer to my 
former despateh, in order to forward by them what I 
now send, together with all the gold and jewels that I 
had been able to araa;ss for your Majesty— there eame 



CONQUEST OP MEXTCa 127 

to me certain of the native inhabitants, vassals ofMutec- 
zuma, from the sea-coast, and informed me that eighteen 
vessels had arrived before the port or bay of St. Juan, 
near the mountains of St. Martin; that they knew not 
who they were, for as soon as they espied them they had 
come to bring me the intelligence. Besides these In- 
dians, there came to me likewise a native of the island 
of Fernandina, bringing a letier from a Spaniard whom 
I had stationed on that part of the sea-coast, in order 
that if the ships arrived he might give them some ac- 
count of me, and of the town in the vicinity of that port, 
with a view to their safety. In this letter he says — 
" That on such a day there hove in sight before the har- 
bor of St. Juan a single ship ; that he had looked as far 
as he could see along the coast, and had been un:ible to 
descry any other, and he believed it was the vessel I had 
despatched to your Sacred Majesty, since it was time 
for it to arrive. In order to satisfy me of this, he was 
waiting for the ship to come up into the harbor to inform 
himself about it, and then to come and bring me the 
account." 

As soon as I had read this letter I despatched two 
Spaniards by different routes, in order that they might 
not miss any messenger that should come from the ship. 
I directed them to proceed to the harbor in question, and 
ascertain what ships had arrived, where they came from, 
and what they had brought ; and then to return with 
the greatest possible speed to bring me the intelligence. 
I also despatched another messenger to the town of Vera 
Cruz, to inform the authorities of what was known re- 
specting these ships, that they might get additional in- 
formation and communicate it to me j and another to the 
captain whom I had sent with one hundred and fifty 



128 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

men to form a settlement at the port of Cuacucalco, to 
whom I wrote that he should remain wherever the mes- 
senger might meet him, and not proceed until he had 
again heard from me, as I had received intelligence of 
the arrival of certain ships in the port ; but it afterwards 
appeared that he knew of their arrival at the time when 
he received my letter. 

After these messengers were gone, fifteen days passed 
before I heard any thing more, or received any answer 
from them, which not a little surprised me. But at the 
expiration of that time, other Indians, also vassals of 
Muteczuma, came, from whom I learned that the ships in 
question had already cast anchor in the port of San Juan, 
and the people had landed from them ; that they brought 
with them eighty horses, eight hundred men, and ten or 
twelve pieces of ordnance, all which were depicted on 
the paper of the country to be shown to Muteczuma. 
They also reported that the Spaniard whom I had sta- 
tioned on the coast, and the other messengers that I had 
sent, were with the new comers, and that they had in- 
formed those Indians, (who brought the inteUigence,) that 
the leader of the party would not suffer them to return 
to me, of which' they wished me to be informed. As 
soon as this was known, I determined to send a priest* 
I had brought with me, with letters from myself and the 
Alcaldes and Regidores of the town of Vera Cruz, then 
in the city, addressed to the captain and others arrived 
at that port, informing them fully of the success that had 
attended roe in this country ; that I was in possession of 
many cities, towns, and fortified places, which had been 
taken and subdued, and were now in peaceful subjection 

* Fr. Bartolome de Olmedo, of the religious order de la Merced, who came as 
chaplain to the expedition, with the Licentiate Juan Dias. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. Ig9 

to your Majesty, the chief ruler of the country being a 
prisoner in my hands ; that I was then in the great city, 
describing its character, and the gold and jewels which 
I held for your Majesty ; and that I had transmitted to 
your Majesty an account of this country. And I begged 
them to inform me who they were, and that if they were 
native subjects of the kingdoms and dominions of your 
Highness, they would write me whether they had come 
to this land by the command of your Majesty to found 
colonies and abide here, or intended to proceed farther, 
or to return home again ; or if they were in distress, I 
would supply them with every thing in my power. But 
should they not belong to your Highness' dominions, I 
begged that they would notwithstanding inform me whe- 
ther they had suffered an}?- disaster, as I would do all in my 
power for their relief. If it were otherwise, I desired 
them, on behalf of your Majesty, that they would at once 
depart from your territory without landing upon it — inti- 
mating that if they did not, I should march against them 
with all the forces under my command, both Spanish and 
native, and capture or put them to death, as intruders 
upon the realm and dominions of the king my master. 

The priest having departed with this despatch, there 
arrived five days after at the city of Temixtitan, twenty 
Spaniards, of the number of those whom I had stationed 
at the town of Vera Cruz, who brought with them a 
priest and two lay brothers taken in that place ; from the 
latter I learned that the fleet and men in that port were 
acting under the orders of Diego Velazquez, [Governor 
of Cuba,] and were commanded in person by one Pan- 
filo Narvaez, an inhabitant of the island Fernandina 
[Cuba] ; that they had brought eighty horses, several 
pieces of artillery, and eight hundred foot soldiers, 



130 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

amongst whom were eighty musketeers and one hundred 
and twenty bowmen ; that Narvaez had come in the ca- 
pacity of Captain General and Lieutenant Governor 
over these countries, by the appointment of Diego Velaz- 
quez, from whom he had received your Majesty's orders ; 
and that the messengers I had sent, and the man I had 
stationed on the coast, had been taken by Narvaez, and 
were not suffered to depart — by whom he had been in- 
formed of the town I had built twelve leagues from that 
port, and of the people residing there, as well as of the 
party [ had sent to Cuacucalco, in the province called 
Tuchitebeque, thirty leagues from the port ; and likewise 
of all that I had accomplished in the country in the ser- 
vice of your Highness ; the cities and towns I had con- 
quered and reduced to a stale of peaceful subjection, 
especially the great city of Temixtitan ; the gold and 
jewels that the country afforded ; and all things else 
showing the success of my operations. In consequence 
of their statements, Narvaez had sent these persons to 
Vera Cruz for the purpose of inducing the people who 
were there to join his standard and declare against me. 
They also brought with them more than a hundred letters, 
that Narvaez and his people had sent to those at Vera 
Cruz, desiring them to place confidence in whatever the 
priest and those with him should say ; promising, on 
behalf of D.Velazquez and himself acting in his name, 
that if they did so, they should be well rewarded ; but 
that they who acted otherwise would be subjected to 
severe treatment. These and other things contained in 
the letters the priest and those with him reported. 

Almost at the same moment there arrived a Spaniard 
of the party that I had sent to Cuacucalco, who brought me 
letters from the commander there, one Juan Velazquez 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 131 

de Leon, informing me that the expedition in question 
was commanded by Panfilo de Narvaez, acting in the 
name of Diego Velazquez ; and forwarding a letter which 
Narvaez had sent by an Indian to him, as a relative of 
Diego Velazquez, and brother-in-law of Narvaez ; in 
which Narvaez stated that he had learned by some 
messengers of mine that he was at that place with a 
party of men, and bade him come directly to him with 
his men ; for by so doing he would act with propriety, 
and perform his duty to his relatives ; that he was fully 
of the belief that I had controlled him by force ; these 
and other things were contained in the letter of Narvaez 
to Captain Juan Velazquez. That officer, however, 
feeling that the service of your Majesty was of stronger 
obligation, not only refused to accept the offers of Nar- 
vaez, but immediately set out, after having despatched 
the letter to me, and came to join me with all his force. 
Afterwards I informed myself by this priest and the 
others with him respecting many things, especially of 
the intentions of Diego Velazquez and Narvaez ; that 
they had been induced to despatch this expedition against 
me on account of my having sent a report of my opera- 
tions and of the country to your Majesty instead of 
Diego Velasquez, and that they had come with a deadly 
purpose to destroy me and many of those under my 
command, whom they had already marked as their in- 
tended victims. I also ascertained that the Licentiate 
Figueroa, President of the HojrI Audience in the island 
of Espafiola, and the judges and officials of your High- 
ness residing there, when it came to their knowledge 
that the said Diego Velasquez had got ready a fleet for 
this avowed purpose, and it being apparent to them that 
the consequences would be injurious to your Majesty's 



132 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

service, despatched the Licentiate Lucas Vazquez de 
Ay lion, one of their number, with an order from them, 
requiring and commanding Diego Velazquez to stop the 
sailing of the expedition. On his arrival Ayllon found 
Diego Velasquez with all his fleet at the extreme point 
of the island Fernandina, ready to set sail, when he im- 
mediately required both the commander and all those 
engaged with him to desist from the enterprise, as in- 
jurious to the service of your Highness, imposing heavy 
penalties in case of disobedience ; notwithstanding which, 
and in open violation of the requisitions and orders of the 
Licentiate, the fleet had been despatched by Velasquez. 
Thinking to be able to avert the mischief likely to be the 
result of this expedition, the evil design of which was 
well known to him and others, Ayllon had also embarked 
and arrived with it. 

I sent this priest with a letter to Narvaez, in which I 
informed him I had learned by the priest and those who 
had come with him, that he had the command of the 
force which had arrived in the ships, whereat I was 
much pleased, since otherwise I might have supposed 
the expedition an unfriendly one, as the messengers 
despatched by me had not returned ; nevertheless I was 
surprised, that, as he knew I was here in the service of 
your Highness, he had not written or sent a messenger, 
apprising me of his arrival ; especially when he knew 
that the information must afford me pleasure, as well on 
account of our old friendship, as from the circumstance 
that he came in the service of your Highness, which I 
was most desirous of promoting ; but, on the contrary, 
had sent secret agents with bribes to induce the men 
under my command, and in the service of your Majesty, 
to throw off their allegiance and join him, as if we were 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 133 

infidels, and they christians, or they vassals of your 
Highness, and we traitors. I therefore begged him that 
henceforth he would take no steps before he had informed 
me of the cause of his coming. I added that I had heard 
he was entitled Captain General and Lieutenant Go- 
vernor by Diego Velazquez, and that he had caused 
himself to be so proclaimed on his arrival in this coun- 
tr}^ ; that he had constituted alcaldes and regidores, and 
administered justice, which proceedings were injurious 
to your Highness' service, and in violation of all the 
laws ; since this country, appertaining to your Majesty, 
and being settled by your subjects, possessed a judicial 
tribunal for the administration of justice, and that he 
ought not to assume those duties without being first ac- 
knowledged by the people, even if he had brought the 
commands of your Majesty. And I begged and required 
of him that if he had brought any such orders he should 
present them to me, and to the municipal authorities of 
Vera Cruz ; when they would be obeyed both by them 
and me, as the commands of our king and natural lord, 
and duly executed so far as conduced to your Majesty's 
royal service. For I was in the great city, and held the 
sovereign a prisoner in it ; I also had in my possession 
a large amount of gold and jewels, belonging to your 
Highness, as well as to myself and my companions, 
which I dared not leave, lest on my departure from the 
city the people should rebel, and I should lose all the 
gold and jewels, and the city itself; especially since if I 
lost the city, I should also lose possession of the whole 
country. 

I also gave the same priest a letter for the Licentiate 
Ayllon ; who, as I afterwards learned, when the priest 
arrived at the port, had been arrested by Narvaez, and 

18 



134 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

sent back a prisoner, two vessels having been employed 
for that purpose. 

The day on which the priest departed there came a 
messenger from the people at Vera Cruz, who brought 
me intelligence that all the natives of the country had 
risen in rebellion, and joined Narvaez, especially those 
of the city of Cempoal and its dependencies ; and that 
not one of them could be induced to perform any service 
in the town, either in the garrison or otherwise, because, 
as they said, Narvaez had told them I was a traitor, and 
that he had come to seize me and all my companions, 
but that having taken us prisoners he should leave the 
country. They added, that Narvaez had a large force, 
while mine was but small; that he had many horses 
and a great deal of artillery, while I had little of either ; 
and that their motto was, " viva quien ve.nce^'' long live 
the victorious ! I w^as also informed by the same mes- 
senger that, according to the report of the Indians, Nar- 
vaez was about to occupy the city of Cempoal with his 
army, and having already informed himself of its dis- 
tance from Vera Cruz, the people of that place believed, 
from the accounts they had received of his wicked pur- 
poses, that he intended to attack them, aided by the 
Indians of Cempoal, and they gave me to understand 
that they should abandon the town rather than contend 
with him, and to avoid reproach take refuge in the 
mountains under the protection of a chief who is a vas- 
sal of your Highness and a friend to us ; there they in- 
tended to remain until I sent them directions what to do. 

As I perceived the great mischief that was about to 
result from this matter, and as the country had risen in 
support of Narvaez, it appeared to me, that by going my- 
self where he was, I should be able to quell the move- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 135 

ment ; since, when the Indians saw mc in person lliey 
would not dare to show symptoms of disaffection. I 
also thought that I might bring about an arrangement 
with Narvaez, by which so great a cause of scandal as 
had arisen might be effectually checked. Therefore I 
set out on the same day, leaving the garrison well supplied 
with maize and water, and containing five hundred men 
with several pieces of cannon. Taking the rest of the 
people that I had there, about seventy in number, I pur- 
sued my journey, accompanied by some of the principal 
personages of the court of Muteczuma ; to the latter, be- 
fore I left, I had much to say, and amongst other things, 
" that he should reflect that he was a vassal of your 
Highness, and that he was now about to receive from 
your Majesty a reward for the services he had rendered ; 
and that I left entrusted to his care a number of my 
Spaniards, together with all the gold and jewels which 
he had given me in compliance with the orders of your 
Highness ; that I was going to meet the people who 
had arrived in the country, to ascertain who they were, 
as I had not yet been informed, but believed they 
must be bad men, and not vassals of your Highness." 
He then promised to supply whatever was necessary, 
and to take good care of what I had left belonging to 
your Majesty ; and added that his people who accom- 
panied me would take me by a route that led entirely 
within his territory, and would provide every thing I 
might want ; begging me to inform him if we met with 
any troublesome persons on the road, that he might im- 
mediately despatch a sufficient force to attack and drive 
them away. All this I listened to with pleasure, and 
declared that, in consideration of these services, your 
Highness would command me to bestow on him great 



136 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

rewards ; and I gave many jewels and much cotton cloth 
to him and his son, and to several caciques who were 
then with him. 

In the city called Chururtecal, [Cholula,] I met with 
Juan Velazquez, the captain whom, as I have already 
mentioned, I sent to Cuacuacalco, who was returning 
with all his people ; some of them, being indisposed, I 
sent to the city, and with the captain and the rest of the 
party I continued my route. Fifteen leagues beyond the 
city of Chururtecal, I fell in with a religious padre of 
my company, wdiom I had sent to the port to ascertain 
what people had arrived there in the fleet. He brought 
me a letter from Narvaez, in which he stated that he had 
brought a commission to take possession of the country 
for Diego Velazquez ; that I must instantly repair to 
the place where he was, for the purpose of yielding obe- 
dience thereto ; and that he had established there a 
town with alcaldes and regidores for its government. I 
also learned from the same priest that they had taken 
the Licentiate Ayllon, and his secretary and alguazil, 
and sent them away in two ships ; that they had offered 
him money with which he might induce some of my 
people to pass over to the service of Narvaez ; and had 
caused a review to take place before him and certain In- 
dians that were with him, of their whole force, both foot 
and horse, discharging the artillery pieces on board the 
ships and on shore in order to strike terror into them, 
saying to the priest — " See, how can you stand against 
us if you do not act according to our wishes :"' He also 
told me that there was a native cacique with Narvaez, 
who was a vassal of Muteczuma, being the governor over 
all his territory along the sea-coast ; and he knew the 
this man had addressed Narvaez on behalf of Mutec- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 137 

ZLima, and given him some trinkets of gold ; and that 
Narvaez had in return made him certain small presents. 
He also stated that Narvaez had despatched messengers 
from thence to Muteczuma, saying that he would set him at 
liberty, and would seize me and all my companions, and 
immediately depart and abandon the country ; and that he 
• was not in quest of gold, but only sought to make prisoners 
of me and my men ; after effecting which he should 
leave his dominions and his people in perfect freedom. 
Finally, I ascertained that it was his intention to assume 
jurisdiction over the country without seeking any public 
acknowledgment of his authority; and that in case I 
and those of my party did not choose to recognize him 
as our commander and judge in the name of Diego Ve- 
lazquez, he would march against us for the purpose of 
exterminating us by war ; to which end he had formed 
an alliance with the natives of the country, especially 
with Muteczuma by means of his messengers. 

When I saw so manifestly the great extent of injury 
that would ensue to your Majesty's service from the 
measures taken by this person, especially on being in- 
formed of the great force he had brought with him, and of 
his orders from Diego Velazquez to hang me and certain 
of my companions, who were marked for this fate, as 
soon as he should get us into his power — I did not hesi- 
tate to approach him, with the belief that I could make 
him understand the great disservice he was doing your 
Highness, and divert him from the mad design and 
injurious purpose with which he had come. I thus 
pursued my course, and when fifteen leagues dis- 
tant from the city of Cempoal, in which Narvaez was 
encamped, there came to me the priest already men- 
tioned, who had been previously sent to me from Vera 



138 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Cruz, (by whom I had written to Narvaez and the Li- 
centiate Ayllon,) together with another priest, and one 
Andrew de Duero, an inhabitant of the island of Fer- 
nandina, who had also arrived with Narvaez ; who, in 
answer to my letter, informed me, on the part of Nar- 
vaez, that I must yield obedience to him as my com- 
mander, and deliver the country into his power, as other- 
wise I should suffer great injury, Narvaez having a large 
force, and I only a small one ; that besides the many 
Spanish troops he had with him, most of the people of 
the country were in his favor ; and that if I would give 
him possession of the country, he would surrender the 
ships to me, and all the provisions I might require, and 
allow me and all who wished to leave with me, to em- 
bark, taking every thing that we wished to carry away, 
without interposing the slightest obstacle in any respect. 
And one of the priests informed me that Diego Velazquez 
had authorized them to make this arrangement with me, 
having for this purpose given to Narvaez and the two 
priests a joint commission, so that they could adjust 
matters as I might please. 

I answered them that I had seen no orders from your 
Highness directing me to deliver up the country, and 
that if Narvaez had brought any, he should present them 
to me, and to the proper tribunal of Vera Cruz, accord- 
ing to the regulations and customs of Spain, where I 
would repair in readiness to obey them ; but that until 
this was done, no inducement of interest or favor would 
prevail upon me to complj'' with his wishes ; that I and my 
companions would rather die in defence of the country 
which we had gained, and possessed in a secure and 
tranquil state, and that we could not turn traitors, or for- 
feit our loyalty to our sovereign. Many other considera- 
tions influenced me to decline their proposals, and I de- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 139 

Glared that I would listen to nothing but an order from 
your Highness, imposiDg the duty upon me — which they 
never chose to show me. In conclusion, these priests, 
Andrew de Duero, and myself agreed, thatNarvaez, at- 
tended by ten persons, and I with as many others, should 
have a peaceable interview, when he should make known 
to me his instructions, if he had brought any, to which 
I should give my answer ; for this purpose I, on my part, 
sent a passport signed by myself, and he likewise gave 
me another in return, subscribed with his name ; which, 
however, as it seemed to me, he had no idea of ob- 
serving ; for it was planned that the interview should 
be so arranged as to enable them to despatch me at 
once ; and two of the ten persons who were to come 
with him, were selected to execute this purpose, while 
the others were to engage with my attendants. Thus 
they said if I was killed, the object would be accom- 
plished ; as in truth it would have been, if God, who 
interposes in such cases, had not thwarted the design by 
granting me certain notice of it at the same time that the 
pass was brought to me. This plot being discovered, 
I wrote a letter to Narvaez, and another to the three com- 
missioners, in which I stated to them that I had learned 
their treacherous design, and refused to have the inter- 
view in the manner agreed upon. 

Immediately after this occurrence, I sent certain re- 
quisitions and orders to Narvaez, demanding of him that, 
if he had brought any orders from your Highness, he 
should give me notice of them, and that until he did so 
he must not assume the title of commander or magistrate, 
nor intermeddle with any of the duties connected with 
those offices, under a certain penalty which I imposed 
upon him. I likewise, in the same manner, commanded 



140 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

all persons who were with Narvaez, that they should not 
treat, nor obey, the said Narvaez as captain or ma- 
gistrate ; but on the other hand, that within a certain time 
which I indicated in the order, they should appear before 
me, that I might be able to instruct them what they 
' should do in the service of your Highness ; declaring, 
that if they did otherwise, 1 would proceed against them as 
traitors and perfidious subjects in rebellion against their 
king, and plotting to usurp his lands and dominions, to 
give them to persons to whom they did not belong, and who 
were destitute of all claim and just right thereto. And 
that to carry this order into execution, in case they did not 
appear before me, nor perform what was enjoined in 
said order, I should proceed to arrest and imprison them 
conformably to the law. 

As an answer to my proceedings, Narvaez caused the 
notary and one other person by whom I had sent my 
notices, to be apprehended, together with several Indians 
who had gone with them, all of whom were detained 
until another messenger arrived from me, to inquire what 
had become of the others. He then caused all his force 
to pass in review before them, and uttered threats against 
them and me, if we did not deliver up the land. Seeing . 
this, and that there was no way in which I could avoid 
so great a calamity, and that the natives of the country 
were becoming restless, and growing more so from day 
to day, commending myself to God, and disregarding all 
fear of the loss that might ensue — reflecting that if I died 
in the service of my king, and in the defence and pro- 
tection of his dominions, to prevent their being usurped, 
sufi&cient glory would accrue to me and my companions 
—I gave orders to Gonzalo de Sandoval, algnazil mayor,* 

* This office corresponds in a certain degree to that of High Sheriff. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 141 

to arrest the said Narvaez and those persons who styled 
themselves alcaldes and regidores ; and for this purpose 
I placed eighty men under his command to proceed with 
him to make the arrest; — taking myself one hundred and 
seventy others, (the whole number being two hundred 
and fifty,) without artillery or horse, but on foot, I fol- 
lowed the alguazil mayor to support him, in case the 
said Narvaez and the rest should choose to resist the exe- 
cution of his process. 

On the same day that the alguazil mayor and myself 
arrived with our party near the city of Cempoal, where 
Narvaez had quartered his army, he received information 
of our approach, and sallied out with eighty horse and 
five hundred foot, leaving the rest of his force within 
their quarters in the great temple of the city, which was 
strongly fortified. Having marched out within a league 
of the place where we were, and not finding us, he con- 
cluded that the Indians who had given the alarm had 
deceived him, and returned to the city, taking the pre- 
caution to have his whole force in readiness, and posting 
two men about a league from the city to give notice of 
our approachr As I was desirous of avoiding as much 
as possible all ofiensive appearances, it seemed to me 
that it would be best to go by night, without being dis- 
covered, if practicable, directly to the quarters of Nar- 
vaez, (with the situation of which we were all well 
acquainted,) and seize him at once ; for I thought that 
as soon as he was taken prisoner there would be no 
further trouble. The others with him would then yield 
obedience to the laws, especially those who had been 
forcibly pressed into the service by Diego Velazquez, or 
threatened by him with the loss of their Indian slaves is 
the Island of Fernandina. 

19 



142 LETTERS OF COETES. 

On Easter day, a little after midnight, I marched for the 
quarters of Narvaez, and before I met with the men he 
had posted outside of the city, the scouts I had sent for- 
ward took one of them prisoner, but the other made his 
escape ; from the former I received information of the 
state of things in the city. I then hastened as much as 
possible to prevent the one who had escaped from arriving 
before me, and giving notice of my approach ; but not- 
withstanding my exertions, he was half an hour in ad- 
vance of me. When I reached the city Narvaez had all 
his men in full armor, and the horses caparisoned, in 
complete readiness, and two hundred men guarded every 
square. We moved so silently that when we were at 
last discovered, and the alarm was given, I had entered 
the square in which were the quarters occupied by the 
whole army, and had taken possession of three or four 
towers, besides the other strong buildings that stood in 
the square. In one of these towers where Narvaez was 
quartered, the staircase was defended by nineteen match- 
locks ; but we mounted it with such rapidity that they 
had not time to put fire to more than one of the pieces, 
which, it pleased God, did not go off, nor occasion any 
injury. So our men ascended the tower until they 
reached the apartment of Narvaez, where he and about 
fifty of his men fought with the alguazil mayor and the 
rest that had gone up, and although the latter called upon 
them many times to surrender to your Highness, they 
refused until the building was set on fire, Avhen they at 
last gave in. 

While the alguazil mayor was employed in taking 
Narvaez, I with the rest of our force, who came to their 
assistance, guarded the ascent of the tower, and caused 
the artillery to be seized and used for our defence. Thus 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 143 

without the loss of more than two men, who were killed 
by the discharge of a gun, all those that we wished to 
arrest were taken, and the rest deprived of their arms, 
promising obedience to your Majesty's officers of justice ; 
declaring that until then they had been deceived, having 
been told that Narvaez had orders from your Majesty, 
and that I had been guilty of rebellion in this country, 
and was a traitor to your Majesty, together with many 
other things of a similar character. As scon as they 
learned the truth, and understood the bad motives and 
ruinous purposes of Diego Velazquez and Narvaez, they 
were struck with the wickedness of the plot, and all ex- 
pressed their joy that God had seen fit to bring it to an 
end. And I assure your Majesty that if God had not 
mysteriously interposed, and the victory had been on the 
side of Narvaez, there would have been a greater de- 
struction of life than has taken place among Spaniards 
for a long period in proportion to the numbers engaged. 
He would have without doubt executed the design that 
he had formed, and which Diego Velazquez had com- 
manded, which was to hang me and many of my com- 
panions, so that no one would have survived to call them 
to account. I was afterwards informed by the Indians, 
that they had reflected in case I v/as taken by Narvaez, 
as he had assured them would happen, that it could not 
be done without serious loss to both parties, and that 
many Spaniards would fall on both sides. In the mean 
time they resolved to destroy the men I had left in the city 
of Mexico, whom they had accordingly attacked. And 
they intended afterwards to make a united assault on all 
that remained in the country, so that they and their lands 
might be set free, and the memory of the Spaniards con- 
signed to oblivion. Your Highness may be assured tljut 



144 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

if they had accomplished their design, it would have 
required more than twenty years to subdue and recover 
a country, which is now already ours and peaceably 
secured. 

Two days after the capture of Narvaez — as it was im- 
possible to support so many people in that city, especially 
as it was already in part destroyed by Narvaez and his 
party, who had plundered it, the inhabitants having fled, 
leaving their houses desolate — I despatched two captains 
each with two hundred men, the one to build a town in 
the port of Cuicicacalco [Guazacualco], where I had 
before sent a party for the same purpose, as I have in- 
formed your Highness ; and the other to a certain river, 
which the ships of Francisco de Garay were said to have 
visited, that I might take secure possession of it. I also 
sent two hundred men to Vera Cruz, where I caused the 
ships to proceed in which Narvaez had arrived. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 145 



CHAPTER VII. 

I REMAINED at Compoal with the rest of the men 
to provide for the interests of your Majesty. I also de- 
spatched a messenger to the city of Temixtitan, by whom 
I made known to the Spaniards I had left there the suc- 
cess of my enterprise. This messenger returned from 
thence in twelve days, and brought me letters from the 
alcalde whom I had left in authority, in which he in- 
formed me that the Indians had attacked the garrison 
on all sides, and set fire to it in many places ; that they 
had sunk mines about it, placing our people in imminent 
danger ; all of whom would perish, unless Muteczuma 
should command the hostile operations to cease ; that 
at the present moment they were closely invested, and al- 
though the fighting had been discontinued, yet no one 
was suffered to go two steps from the garrison. It was 
added, that a great part of their supplies had been for- 
cibly seized, and that the enemy had burned the four 
brigantines I had built there ; and finally, that our people 
were in extreme distress, and begged me to come to 
their aid with the greatest possible haste. Seeing to 
what extremities they were reduced, and that if I did 
not instantly fly to their relief, not only would their lives 
be sacrificed, together with all the gold, silver, and jew- 
els, of which we had become possessed, as well the por- 
tion appertaining to your Highness, as that assigned to 
the army and myself; but that it would also involve the 
loss of the greatest and noblest city in the whole new 
world, and with it every thing we had gained, since it 



146 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

was the chief seat of the empire, to which all the rest 
yielded obedience — I therefore forthwith despatched 
messengers to the officers I had sent away with parties 
of men, informing them what I had heard from the capi- 
tal, and directing that wherever they might be, they 
should turn about at once, and make their way back by 
the shortest possible route to Tlascaltecal, where I would 
join them with all the artillery in my power and with 
seventy horse ; and when they had arrived, on reviewing 
my force, I found it consisted of seventy horse and five 
hundred foot. With these troops I departed in the great- 
est haste for the capital ; on the whole route, not a single 
person owing allegiance to Muteczuma came out to re- 
ceive me, as was the case on former occasions ; the en- 
tire country seeming to have lost its population on ac- 
count of some disaster. My suspicions were excited 
by this appearance of things ; I feared that our country- 
men who were left in the city had all been murdered, 
and that the people of the country had assembled in one 
mass, waiting to attack me in some narrow pass, where 
they might have the advantage of me. 

Under these apprehensions I proceeded with great 
precaution until I reached the city of Tesnacan, [Tes- 
cuco,] which, as I have already informed your Majesty, 
lies on the coast of that great lake. Here I inquired of 
some of the people concerning the Spaniards who were 
left in the capital, and I learned that they were alive. 
I then bade them bring me a canoe, as I wished to despatch 
one of my men to ascertain the truth, and that in the mean 
while, during his absence, they should leave with me one 
of their citizens who appeared to exercise some autho- 
rity, as the principal men of the place whom I had seen 
on fornter occasions had all disappeared. This person 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 147 

caused a canoe to be brought, and sent several Indians 
to accompany my messenger, while he himself re- 
mained with me. 

When the messenger was about departing for the city 
of Temixtitan, he perceived another canoe crossing the 
lal^e, and waited until it had reached the shore ; in this 
came one of the Spaniards who had been left in the 
city, from whom I learned that they were all living, ex- 
cept five or six who had been killed by the Indians. 
The rest were still closely confined to their quarters, 
which they were not allowed to leave for a moment, and 
were not even supplied with the necessaries of life ex- 
cept at a veiy high price. But since they had heard of 
my approach to the city, their treatment had improved, 
arid Muteczuma said that he only waited for my arrival 
to give them permission to go about the city as usual. 
In company with this Spaniard came also a messenger 
from Muteczuma, who sent me word that he presumed 
I knew what had occurred in the city, and feared I 
should be deeply incensed against him, and return with 
the intention of making him suffer for what had been 
done ; but he begged me to entertain no such feelings 
towards him, as he regretted as much as I did the oc- 
currences in question, which had taken place without 
his agency or consent. He also said many other things 
to appease my anger, and desired me to return to my 
quarters in the city as before, promising to execute my 
commands in every respect as he had been wont to do. 
I answered his message by saying that I should return 
without taking offence against him for what had hap- 
pened, as I was fully aware of his friendly feelings, and 
should do as he requested. 

On the following day, which was the eve of St. John 



148 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the Baptist, I proceeded on my route, and at night 
lodged three leagues from the great city. The next 
day after hearing mass I resumed the march, and about 
noon entered the city ;* seeing but few persons, and ob- 
serving the gates removed from the cross streets, I did 
not like the appearance of things, although I thought that 
the people were alarmed at what had taken place, and 
that when I should be re-established in the city all 
would be quiet again. I marched directly to the fortress, 
in which, and in the great temple adjoining it, all my 
troops were quartered ; those in the fortress received us 
with as great joy as if we had restored their lives to 
them, which they had already considered as lost ; and 
we passed that day and the following night in extreme 
joy, believing that peace had again returned. 

The next day, after mass, I sent a messenger to the 
town of Vera Cruz, to carry the good news that the 
Christians were alive, and that I had entered the city, 
which was quiet. The messenger returned in half an 
an hour after his departure, covered with bruises and 
injuries, crying aloud that all the Indians of the city were 
in arms, and that they had raised the bridges ; and soon 
after an attack was made upon us by so great a multi- 
tude of people on all sides, that neither the streets, nor 
the roofs of the houses were visible, on account of the 
crowd, from whom proceeded the most violent outcries 
and terrible shouts that could be conceived. Stones 
thrown by slings fell in such numbers upon the garrison 
that it seemed as if they came down like rain from the 
clouds ; and darts and arrows were so thick that the 
houses and squares were filled with them, and almost 

* June 24th, 1520. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 149 

prevented our walking about. I sallied forth at two or 
three different points, where they were engaged stoutly 
with our men ; and at one time, when a captain had led 
forth 200 men, they fell upon them before he had time 
to form them in order, and killed four of their number, 
besides wounding the captain and several others. I was 
also wounded, and many of the Spaniards who were 
with me engaged in another quarter. We destroyed 
few of the enem}'', because they took refuge beyond the 
bridges, and did us much injury from the roofs of houses 
and terraces, some of which fell into our possession and 
were burned. But they w^ere so numerous and strong, 
and so well defended and supplied with stones and 
other arms, that our whole force was not sufficient to 
take them, nor to prevent the enemy from attacking us 
at their pleasure. 

The attack on the fortress or garrison was made with 
such violence that they succeeded in setting fire to seve- 
ral parts of it, and a considerable portion of it was burned 
without our being able to prevent it, until we cut away 
the walls and levelled a portion of the building with the 
ground, by which we obstructed the progress of the fire, 
and extinguished it. And had it not been for the great 
caution that I used in posting musketeers, archers, and 
several pieces of artillery, they would have scaled our 
walls in broad daylight without our being able to resist 
them. Thus we fought all that day until the darkness of 
night enveloped us, and even then they continued to 
assail us with noises and alarms till daylight. That night 
I directed the breaches caused by the fire to be re- 
paired, together with all other parts of the garrison that 
seemed to require it ; and I arranged the quarters, de- 
termining who were to remain in them the next day, and 

20 



150 LETTEES OF CORTES. 

who were to be engaged without ; at the same time I 
caused suitable care to be taken of the wounded, who 
amounted to more than eighty in number. 

As soon as it was dayhght, the enemy renewed the 
combat with still greater vigor than the day before, for 
the number of them was so immense that there was no 
need of levelling the guns, but only to direct them against 
the mass of Indians. And although the fire-arms did 
much injury, for we played off thirteen arquebuses be- 
sides matchlocks and crossbows, they produced so little 
impression that their effect scarcely seemed to be felt ; 
since where a discharge cut down ten or twelve men, the 
ranks were instantly closed up by additional numbers, 
and no apparent loss was perceived. Leaving in the 
garrison a sufficient force for its defence, and as large as 
I could spare, I sallied forth with the rest, and took from 
the enemy several bridges, setting fire to a number of 
houses and destroying the people who defended them ; 
but they were so numerous, that although we did them 
much injury, the effect was still imperceptible. Our men 
were compelled to fight all day long without cessation, 
while the enemy were relieved at intervals by fresh forces, 
and still had a superabundance of men. But we had 
none of our Spanish force killed on this day, although 
fifty or sixty were wounded, and we continued the con- 
test till night, when we withdrew wearied into the gar- 
rison. 

Seeing the great mischief done us by the enemy in 
wounding and slaying our people, while they were either 
unharmed, or if we caused them any loss, it was imme- 
diately repaired by their great numbers, we spent all 
that night and the next day in constructing three engines 
of timber, each of which would contain twenty men, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 151 

covered with thick plank to protect them from the stones 
that were thrown from the terraces of houses. The per- 
sons to be conveyed in the machines were musketeers 
and archers, together with others provided with spades, 
pickaxes, and bars of iron, to demohsh the barricades- 
erected in the streets, and pull down the houses. While 
we were building these machines, the enemy did not 
cease their attacks ; and so resolute were they, that when 
we sallied forth from our quarters, they attempted to 
enter them, and we had trouble enough to resist their 
progress. Muteczuma, who was- still a prisoner, (to- 
gether with his son and many other persons of distinction, 
who had been secured at the beginning of operations,) 
now came forward and requested to be taken to the ter- 
race of the garrison, that he might speak to the leaders 
of his people and induce them to discontinue the conte^sl. 
I caused him to be taken up, and when he reached a 
battlement projecting from the fortress, and sought an 
opportunit}^ to address the people who were fighting in 
that quarter, a stone thrown by some one of his own 
subjects struck him on the bead with so much force that 
he died in three days after. I then gave bi® dead body 
to two Indians who were amongs-t tbe prisoners, and 
taking it upon their shoulders, they bore it away to his- 
people ; what afterwards became of it I know not. The 
war, however, did not cease, but increased in violence 
and desperation every day. 

On the same day a cry was heard in th'e quarter where 
Muteczuma had been wounded, some of the enemy 
calling to me to approach there, as certain of their cap- 
tains wished to confer with me. I accordingly did so, 
and we passed amongst them j when after a long parley 
I asked them to discontinue their attn.cks, since thev had 



152 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

no good reason for it, having received many benefits from 
me, and having always been treated well. Their answer 
was, that I must depart and leave the country, when 
the war would immediately cease; otherwise they were 
all resolved to die, or to destroy us. This they did, as 
it appeared, to induce me to leave the fortress, that they 
might cut us off at pleasure on our departure from the 
city, when we were between the bridges. I answered 
them that they need not suppose I asked for peace 
from fear, but that I was pained to be under the ne- 
cessity of injuring them, and destroying so fine a city as 
theirs. They replied that they should not cease their 
attacks until I departed from the city. 

After the engines were completed, immediately on the 
following day, I sallied forth to gain possession of certain 
terraces and bridges ; and placing the engines in front 
they were followed by four pieces of artillery, with many 
bowmen and shield bearers, and more than three thou- 
sand native Tlascalans, who had come with me as aux- 
iharies, subordinate to the Spanish troops. Having 
reached a bridge, we brought the engines near to the 
walls of the terraces, together with scaling ladders, by 
means of which we ascended them. But the multitude 
of people was so great that defended the bridge and the 
terraces, and such showers of heavy stones were thrown 
from above, that the movements of the engines were dis- 
concerted, and a Spaniard killed and many others 
wounded, without our being able to make any progress, 
although we struggled hard for it, and fought from morn- 
ing till mid-day, when we returned sad enough to our 
quarters. 

The enemy were so much encouraged by this unsuc- 
cessful movement on our part, that they advanced almost 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 153 

to our doors, and took possession of the great temple, 
to the loftiest and most considerable tower of which 
nearly five hundred Indians, apparently persons of rank, 
ascended, taking with them a large supply of bread, 
water and other provisions, and a great quantity of stones. 
Most of them were armed with lances of large size, 
having points formed of flint, broader and not less sharp 
than ours ; and from this position they did much mischief 
to the people in the garrison, as it was very near. The 
Spanish soldiers attacked this tower two or three times, 
and attempted to ascend it ; but it was very lofty, 
and the passage up difficult on account of its having 
more than a hundred steps, and those above were well 
supplied with stones and other means of defence, and 
favored by our not having succeeded in gaining posses- 
sion of the neighboring terraces ; in consequence of these 
circumstances, every time our soldiers attempted the 
ascent, they came rolling down, many of them severely' 
wounded, and the other portions of the enemy's force 
seeing this, took courage and penetrated to the very gar- 
rison without fear. Being sensible that if they continued, 
their assaults while in possession of the tower, besides 
doing us much harm, they would be encouraged in the 
prosecution of the war, I sallied forth from the garri- 
son, although lame in my left hand from a wound 
I had received in the engagement on the first day; 
and having tied a shield to my arm, I advanced to the 
tower, attended by a number of Spanish soldiers, and 
caused it to be surrounded at its base by a sufficient 
number of men, as was quite practicable. This pre- 
caution was not a useless one, as the troops stationed 
around the tower were attacked on all sides by the ene- 
my, who increased in numbers to favor those within ; in 



154 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the mean time I began to ascend the stairs, followed by 
certain . Spaniards. While they who were above dis- 
puted the ascent with great courage, and even over- 
turned three or four of my followers, by the aid of God 
and his glorious Mother, for whose house this tower had 
been designated, and whose image had been placed in 
it, we succeeded in ascending, and engaged with the 
enemy on the upper area, until I compelled them to leap 
down to a lower terrace that surrounded it, one pace in 
width. Of these terraces the tower had three or four, 
about sixteen feet one above the other. Some of the 
enemy fell to the very bottom, who, besides the injury 
received from the fall, were slain by the Spani&h soldiers 
stationed around the base. Those who remained on the 
upper terraces fought so desperately that we were more 
than three hours engaged with them before they were all 
despatched } thus all perished, not one escaping. And 
your sacred Majesty may be assured, that so arduous 
was the attempt to take this tower, that if God had not 
broken their spirits, twenty of them would have been 
sufficient to resist the ascent of a thousand men, although 
they fought with the greatest valor, even unto death. 
I caused this tower and the others within the temple to 
be burned, from which they had removed the images we 
had placed in them. 

The fierceness of the enemy was somewhat abated by 
the capture of this position ; and while they relaxed their 
exertions throughout the city to a considerable degree, 
I directed my attention to the neighboring terrace, and 
called to the chiefs who had before conferred with me, 
but were now somewhat dismayed by what they had 
witnessed. The}'" immediately appeared, when 1 said 
to them that they saw their inability to miaintain their 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 155 

ground ; that we should every day do them much in- 
jury, destroy many lives, burn and lay waste the city ; 
and that we should persevere until nothing was left of it 
or them. They answered, that they were well aware 
much harm would befal them, and that many of them 
would lose their lives ; but that they were still deter- 
mined to make an end of us, even if they should all 
perish in the attempt ; that I might see how the streets, 
public squares and terraces were filled with people, who 
were so numerous that they had made a calculation that 
if tw-enty-five thousand of them should fall to one of ours, 
we would be first exterminated, so small was our num- 
ber compared with theirs ; that all the causeways leading 
into the city had been destroyed, (which was so far true 
that only one of them remained,) and thus we had no 
w^ay of escape but by water ; that they knew well we 
had few provisions and but little fresh water, and 
that ere long we should perish with hunger, even if they 
did not kill us. They were, indeed, quite right, in say- 
ing that had we nothing else to contend with, hunger and 
want would soon put an end to our lives. We exchanged 
many other words, each party sustaining his own side. 
As soon as it was dark, I sallied forth with a number of 
Spaniards, and as I found the people were taken by sur- 
prise, we obtained possession of one street, in which we 
burned more than three hundred houses. While the 
enemy were assembling in that quarter in its defence, I 
speedily turned into another street, where I also burned 
several houses, especially certain terraces that adjoined 
our quarters, from which we had experienced much an- 
noyance. Thus the events of that night struck great 
terror into the enemy; and during the same night I 
caused the ens:ines that had created confusion in our 



156 LETTERS OF CORTEo. 

ranks the day before, to be repaired and got in readi- 
ness. 

In order to follow up the victory God had granted us, 
I sallied forth at break of day into the same street where 
they had routed us the day before, and I found the ene- 
my not less prepared for defence than they were on the 
former occasion. But as our lives and honor were now 
at stake, and as that street led to a causeway that re- 
mained unbroken,* extending to the main land, although 
interrupted by eight bridges very large and high, and 
the street itself was filled with lofty terraces and towers ; 
we put forth so much resolution and spirit, that, with the 
aid of our Lord, we secured that day four of the bridges, 
and burned all of the terraces, houses and towers, as far 
as the last of these bridges. They had erected during 
the previous night, on all the bridges, many strong- 
breastworks of unburnt bricks and clay, so that neither 
the guns nor the crossbows made any impression on 
them. We filled up the space occupied by the four 
bridges with the unburnt bricks and the earth from the 
breastworks, together with a great quantity of stones and 
timber from the burnt houses, although this was not 
effected without danger, and many Spaniards were 
wounded. The same night I used much precaution in 
guarding the bridges, lest the enemy should succeed in 
recovering them. 

The next day in the morning, I made another sally 
from our quarters, and God gave us again success and 
victory, although the enemy appeared in great numbers, 
and defended the bridges, protected by strong entrench- 
ments and ditches which they had formed during the 

*This is the street to Tacuba, now a village on solid ground, which was then 
covered entirely by the lakes. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 157 

night ; we took them all, and covered them up ; and 
some of our horsemen followed at the heels of the fugi- 
tives in the heat of victor}^ and pursued them to the 
main land. While I was employed in repairing the 
bridges and ^filling them up, messengers came to me in 
great haste, reporting that the enemy had attacked the 
garrison, and at the same time had sued for peace, seve- 
ral of their leaders, being in waiting to see me. I imme- 
diately went with two horsemen to see what they wanted. 
These men assured me that if I would engage not to 
punish them for what they had done, they would raise 
the blockade, replace the bridges that had been de- 
stroyed, and restore the causeways, and that hereafter 
they would serve your Majesty as they had before done. 
They also requested that I would bring them a priest of 
theirs whom I had taken prisoner, who w^as, as it were, 
the commander-in-chief of their religion. He came and 
addressed them, and brought about an arrangement be- 
tween me and them ; and it appeared that they imme- 
diately despatched messengers to inform the captains 
and the people who were in the camp, that the attacks 
on the garrison and all other oiFensive operations should 
cease. Upon this being done we took leave of them, and 
I went to the garrison to procure some food. 

While I was beginning to take some refreshment, in- 
formation was brought me in great haste, that the In- 
dians had attacked the bridges which we had taken the 
same day, and had killed certain Spaniards. God only 
knows with what feelings I received this intelligence, 
since I had thought that we had nothing more to trouble 
us after having gained the possession of the avenue 
leading out of the city. I mounted in the greatest pos- 
sible haste, and galloped the whole length of the street^, 

21 



158 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

followed by a few horsemen ; and without stopping a 
moment I dashed in amongst the Indians, put them to 
flight whilst I regained the bridges, and pursued them 
to the main land. As the infantry were wearied, wounded 
and panic-struck, they did not follow me, and I saw the 
dangerous situation in which I was placed from being 
unsupported by them. On this account after having 
passed the bridges, when I sought to return I found them 
in possession of the enemy, and sunk to a great depth 
where we had filled them up ; and both sides of the 
causeway were covered with people, on the land and 
water, who galled us with stones and arrows to such a 
degree, that if God had not been pleased to interpose 
mysteriously in our behalf, it would have been impos- 
sible for us to escape thence ; and, indeed, it was rumored 
amongst the people in the city that I was dead. When 
I reached the last bridge next the city, I found all the 
cavalry that had accompanied me fallen in, and one 
horse without a rider ; and as in this situation I could 
not pass, I rushed alone against the enemy, and thus 
opened a passage by which the horsemen could extricate 
themselves. After this I found the bridge free, and 
passed over, although with some trouble, as I had to leap 
my horse, in one place, nearly six feet from one side to 
the other ; but as I and my horse were well protected by 
armor, the enemy did us no harm more than to cause 
our bodies a little pain. 

Thus the enemy that night came off victorious, having 
regained possession of four of the bridges. The other 
four I left well guarded, and returned to the garrison, 
where I constructed a bridge of timber that could be 
carried by forty men. Seeing the dangerous situation in 
which we were now placed, and the very serious injury 
that the Indians were doing us every day ; and fearing 



CONQUEST OF MEXFCO. 169 

that they would also destroy the remaining causeway, 
as they had done the others, and when that was effected 
death would be our inevitable fate ; and moreover, hav- 
ing been often entreated by all my companions to abandon 
the place, the greater part of whom were so badly 
wounded as to be disabled from fighting, I determined 
to quit the city that night. I took all the gold and jew- 
els belonging to your Majesty that could be removed, 
and placed them in one apartment, where I delivered it 
in parcels to the officers of your Highness, whom I had 
designated for this purpose in the royal name ; and I 
begged and desired the alcaldes, regidores, and all the 
people, to aid me in removing and preserving this trea- 
sure ; I gave up my mare to carry as much as she could 
bear ; and I selected certain Spaniards, as well my own 
servants as others, to accompany the gold and the mare, 
and the rest the magistrates above mentioned and my- 
self distributed amongst the Spaniards, to be borne by 
them. Abandoning the garrison, together with much 
wealth belonging to your Highness, the Spaniards and 
myself, I went forth as secretly as possible, taking with 
me a son and two daughters of Muteczuma and Caca- 
macin, cacique of Aculuacan, with his brother, whom I 
had appointed in his place, and several other governors 
of provinces and cities that I had taken prisoners. 

Arriving at the bridges, (now broken up,) which the 
Indians had left, the bridge that I carried was thrown 
over where the first of them had been, without much 
difficulty, as there was none to offer resistance, except 
some watchmen who were stationed there, and who ut- 
tered so loud cries that before we had arrived at the 
second an immense multitude of the enemy assailed us, 
fighting in every direction, both by land and water. 



160 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

I sallied across with great speed, followed by five 
horsemen and a hundred foot, with whom I passed all 
the (broken) bridges swimming, and reached the main 
land. Leaving the people who formed this advance 
party, I returned to the rear, where I found the troops 
hotly engaged ; it is incalculable how much our people 
suffered, as well Spaniards as our Indian allies of Tas- 
caltecal, nearly all of whom perished, together with many 
native Spaniards and horses, besides the loss of the gold, 
jewels, cotton cloth, and many other things we had brought 
away, including the artillery. Having collected all that 
were alive, I sent them on before, while with three or 
four horse and about twenty foot that dared to remain 
with me, I followed in the rear, incessantly engaged with 
the Indians, until we at length reached a city called 
Tacuba, [Tlacopan,] beyond the causeway, after en- 
countering a degree of toil and danger, the extent of 
which God only knows. As often as I turned against 
the enemy, I met a shower of arrows and darts and 
stones, and there being water on both sides, they as- 
sailed us without exposing themselves, and without fear ; 
for when we attacked them on the causeway, they im- 
mediately leapt into the water, receiving little hurt, ex- 
cept some few, who, when the multitude was so great 
as to trample upon one another, fell and perished. Thus 
with great labor and fatigue I brought off all this portion 
of our force without any of the Spaniards or Indians be- 
ing wounded or slain, except one of the horse that had 
gone with me to the rear, where they fought with no less 
fury than in front or on the flanks, although the hottest 
part of the fight was in the extreme rear, where our 
men were constantly exposed to fresh attacks from the 
inhabitants of the city. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. IGl 

Having reached the city of Taciiba, I found all our 
people gathered together in the square, notknowing where 
to go ; I gave immediate directions to march into the coun- 
try, before the inhabitants should collect in greater num- 
bers in the city, and that they should take possession of the 
terraces, as the enemy would be likely to do us much 
injury from them. Those who had led the van saying, 
that they knew not in which direction to leave the city, 
I bade them remain with the rear, while I took command 
of the van until I had led. them out into the open fields, 
where I waited till the rest came up. When the rear 
arrived, I saw that they had suffered some loss, and that 
some of the Spaniards and Indians had fallen, and that 
they had left on the road much gold which the Indians 
had seized. I remained there until all our people had 
arrived, closely pursued by the enemy. I kept the enemy 
at bay until the infantry had taken possession of a hill on 
which there was a tower with a strong building, which 
they took without suffering any loss, and I maintained 
my position, not suffering the enemy to advance, until 
the hill was taken ;* and God only knows the toil and fa- 
tigue with which it was accomplished ; for of twenty-four 
horses that remained to us, there was not one that could 
move briskly, nor a horseman able to raise his arm, nor a 
foot soldier unhurt who could make any effort. When 
we had reached the building, we fortified ourselves in it ; 
and the enemy invested it, remaining till night without 
allowing us an hour of rest. 

In this defeat it was ascertained that one hundred and 
fifty Spaniards lost their lives, together with forty-five 

* Called the hill of Muteczuma, on which is now the celebrated sanctuary of 
Our Lady de los Remedios. — L. (See Madame Calderon's Life in Mexico, 
vol. 1, p. 226.) 



162 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

mares and horses, and more than two thousand Indians, 
our auxiHaries ; amongst the latter were the son and 
daughters of Muteczuma, and the other caciques whom 
we had taken prisoners. The same night* about mid- 
night, thinking that we were not perceived, we salhed 
forth from the building very secretly, leaving in it many 
lighted fires, without knowing our route, nor where to go, 
except that one of the Tascaltecalt Indians who guided 
us, promised to lead us to his country, if the enemy did 
not embarrass the route. But guards had been stationed 
around who noticed our movements, and gave the alarm 
to the multitudes of people dwelling in that vicinity, of 
whom great numbers were collected, who pursued us 
until day-light, when five horsemen who went before as 
runners attacked some squadrons of people on the road, 
and killed a number of them ; these fled, supposing that 
there was a greater number of horse and foot than ap- 
peared. When I saw that the number of the enemy was 
increasing on all sides, I made a disposition of our force, 
and out of those remaining unhurt I formed squadrons, 
and placed them in front and rear, and on the flanks ; I 
put the wounded in the centre ; and I also arranged the 
position of the horse. During the whole of that day we 
were engaged in fighting in every direction, so that du- 
ring the whole night and day we did not advance more 
than three leagues. It pleased our Lord when the night 
came to show us a tower and a good house on a hill, 
where we entrenched ourselves ; and that night the ene- 
left us,, undisturbed, except that near the dawn of day 
there was a sudden alarm that only sprung from the 

* This is still called la noche triste, the sorrowful night. 

t It might better have been supposed to be a guardian angel, either St Peter, 
as sonje have imagined, or St. James the Apostle, as in the battle of las Navas 
de Tolosa, in the form of a shepherd. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 163 

constant apprehension we all had of the multitude of 
people that was continually at our heels. 

The next day I set out at one o'clock in the order re- 
ferred to, watching with great caution my front and rear, 
and the enemy constantly followed us on both sides of 
our route, uttering loud cries and calling upon the people 
of all that region, which is very populous. Our cavalry, 
although few in number, attacked them, but did them 
little harm, since, as the country was rough and uneven, 
they betook themselves to the hills for refuge. In this 
manner we marched that day around several lakes,* until 
we arrived at a populous place where w^e expected to 
have a collision with the people of the town ; but when 
we reached it, we found it deserted, and the people fled 
to other places in the neighborhood. I remained there 
that day and the next, as our people, both the wounded 
and those unhurt, were extremely wearied and exhausted 
with hunger and thirst ; and the horses were also in the 
same condition ; we found there a quantity of maize, 
which we eat, and took suppHes of it, both boiled and 
roasted, for our march. The next day we resumed our 
route, still pursued by the enemy, who annoyed us in 
front and rear, uttering loud cries and making slight 
attacks on the way. We continued our course, following 
the guidance of the Indian of Tascaltecal ; in the course 
of which we were compelled to endure much toil and fa- 
tigue, as we often lost our way ; and it was already even- 
ing when we arrived at a plain where were several small 
houses, in which we lodged with little enough to eat. 
The next day we resumed our march, starting at an 
early hour of the morning, with the enemy still hanging 
upon our rear ; after some skirmishing, we arrived at a 

* These small lakes are Zumpango, Jaltocan, and San Cristobal*;— L, 



164 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

considerable town two leagues distant, on the right of 
which there were a number of Indians, posted on the 
summit of a small hill. Thinking to take them prison- 
ers, as they were very near the road, and also to discover 
if there were any more people behind the hill, I proceeded 
with five horse and ten or twelve foot to attack them. 
We discovered that in the rear of the hill there was a 
large city with many inhabitants, with whom we en- 
gaged, until finding the ground somewhat rough and 
rocky, and the enemy numerous, while our own force 
was small, we were compelled to fall back on the town, 
where the army*was left encamped. On this occasion I 
was badly wounded in the head by two stones ; and after 
my wounds had been dressed, I gave orders to leave the 
place, as it did not appear to be a safe position. Resu- 
ming our route, we were still followed by Indians in con- 
siderable numbers, who attacked our troops with such 
vigor as to wound four or five Spaniards, and as many 
horses j one horse was killed, and God only knows how 
great a loss it was to us, and how much sorrow his death 
occasioned in our ranks, as next to God our greatest 
security was in our horses. We derived some consolation 
from the flesh of this animal, which we eat, not leaving 
even his skin, or any other part of him, so great were our 
necessities ; for since our departure from the great city 
we had eaten nothing but maize, boiled and roasted ; and 
even this we were not always fully supplied with, being 
compelled to subsist in part on wild plants. 

Seeing that every day the enemy increased in numbers 
and vigor, while we were becoming enfeebled, I that night 
caused the wounded and infirm, whom we had so far car- 
ried on the backs and shoulders of the horses, to provide 
themselves with crutches and other means of assistance, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 165 

SO that they miglit be able to have support m walkhig, and 
the horses and Spanish soldiers be left free to fight the ene- 
my. And it seemed as if the Holy Ghost had enlightened 
my mind to adopt this precaution, from what occurred on 
the following day ;* since, having left our quarters in the 
morning, and advanced a league and a half on our 
way^ we encountered so great a multitude of Indians 
that they completely covered the ground in front and 
rear, and on our flanks, not leaving a single spot unoc- 
cupied. They attacked us with such violence on all 
sides, that they became mingled with our own people, 
and it was difficult for us to distinguish them from our 
allies. We thought it certain that our last day was come, 
so great was the force of the enemy and so feeble our 
own, exhausted as we were by fatigue, and reduced by 
hunger, and nearly all of us suffering from wounds. But 
it pleased the Lord to show his great power and mercy 
towards us, so that we were enabled to humble the pride 
and arrogance of our enemies, great numbers of whom 
perished, including some of their most distinguished men 
and principal leaders ; for the multitude of them was so 
great that they were in each other's way, and unable 
either to fight or to fly. We were engaged during the 
greater part of the day, until it pleased God that one 
should fall who must have been a leading personage 
amongst them, as at his death the battle ceased. After 
this we were somewhat relieved, although still suffering 
from hunger, until we reached a small house on a plain, 
in which and the fields we lodged that night. From this 

* This is right, as God alone could have performed such miracles ; and this 
ought to cover with confusion those who detract from the merit of the conquest. 
Cortes was another Moses when he said, " The Lord will fight for us ;" Exod. 
14. — L. The reader will not, we hope, be displeased by these characteristic ex- 
pressions of the pious archbishop. 

22 



166 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

spot were descried certain mountains of the province of 
Tascaltecal,* which produced not a little joy in our 
hearts ; since we recognized the land and knew it was the 
country where we were going. We were, however, not 
sure of finding the inhabitants of that province secure 
and friendly ; thinking it possible that on seeing us so 
reduced, they might desire to put an end to our lives, in 
order to recover the liberty they had before enjoyed. 
This idea with our suspicions gave us as much uneasi- 
ness as we should have felt in renewing our contests 
with the Culuans. 

The following day, as soon as it was light, we resumed 
our march over a very level road, which led directly to 
the province of Tascaltecal ; a few only of the enemy 
followed us, although the country around was very 
populous, and we were still saluted with a hooting noise 
from the hills at some distance in our rear. On that day, 
which was Saturday, the Sth of July, [1520,] we passed 
out of the territory of Culua, and entered that of the 
province of Tascaltecal, at a place called Gualipan,t 
containing three or four thousand families, where we 
were well received by the inhabitants, and somewhat 
refreshed with food and rest, although compelled to pay 
for the provisions they supplied us with, and they would 
take nothing but gold in payment, which in our great 
necessities we were forced to give. I remained in that 
town three days, during which time Magiscacin and Si- 
cutengal, together with all the other nobles of that pro- 
vince, and some from Guazucingo, came to see and confer 

* The villages and fields where these battles were fought were before arriving 
at Puebla, and between Otumba and that city ; and there can be seen the Sierra 
of Tlascala. — L. 

t Hueyotlipan, in the seignory or republic of Tlascala. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 167 

with us ; all of whom discovered much grief at what 
had befallen us, and endeavored to console me,* saying 
that they had often told me the people of Culua were 
traitors, and that I should be on my guard against them, 
not trusting their professions ; that I ought to rejoice in 
having escaped with hfe ; and that they would assist me 
to the death in obtaining satisfaction for the wrongs we 
had suffered ; to this course they said they were impelled 
not only by their allegiance to your Highness, but also 
from grief for the loss of many sons and brothers who 
had perished in my service, and from a sense of many 
other injuries that they had suffered from the same quarter 
in times past ; and they assured me that I might rely on 
their proving sure and fast friends to me until death. 
They added, that since I had returned wounded, and all 
my company were worn down with toil, we should go to 
a city four leagues from this town, where we might obtain 
repose, and they would strive to cure our wounds and 
recover us from the effects of our fatigue and exhaustion. 
I expressed myself pleased with their offer and ac- 
cepted it, making them presents of some little jewels tliat 
we had saved, with which they were well satisfied ; and 
I accompanied them to the city, where we found a good 
reception. Magiscacin brought me a bed encased in 
wood, together with some cotton cloth for me to sleep on, 
as we had brought none, and he did all in his power with 
the means he possessed to repair all our losses. I had 
left in this city, when on my march to Temixtitan, several 
sick persons and some of my servants, with silver, cotton 
clothing, and other domestic articles, including provisions, 

* This proof of fidelity and a sense of honor in these states is worthy of praise, 
especially considering the situation of Cortes, himself wounded, his men dis- 
comfited, poor, and perishing with hunger.— L. 



168 LETTERS OF CORTES- 

(which I then had with me,) in order to be less encum- 
bered on my march, if any obstacles should present them- 
selves, and my papers, including the treaties that I had 
made with the natives of these parts, should be lost ; I 
had left also the clothing of the Spaniards who accom- 
panied me except what they required for use, together 
with their bedding. I was informed that another servant 
of mine had come to this place from the town of Vera 
Cruz, who brought provisions and other things for me, 
attended by five horse, and forty-five foot, and had taken 
away the persons I had left there, together with all the 
silver, clothing, and other things, both belonging to me 
and my companions, including 70,000 pesos of molten 
gold, which I had left there in two chests, besides other 
jewels, and more than 14,000 pesos of gold in pieces, 
which had been presented to a certain captain in the 
province of Tuchitebequa, whom I had sent to establish 
the town of Cuacucalco, together with many other things, 
of the value of more than 30,000 pesos of gold ; and 
that the Indians of Culua had killed them all on the road, 
and taken away their treasures. I was also informed 
that many other Spaniards had been destroyed by the 
same people, while on their way to the city of Temixtitan, 
supposing that I was in peaceable possession of the city, 
and that the roads were secure, as I had before found 
them. On the receipt of this intelligence I assure your 
Majesty that we were all filled with sorrow, as great as 
can be conceived ; since besides the loss of the Spaniards 
and of the treasure, it brought fresh to our minds the 
death and loss of those of our countrymen who had 
perished in the city at the bridges and on the road ; and 
especially it excited our suspicions as to the fate of 
the people left in the town of Vera Cruz, lest the peo- 



1 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 169 

pie who had been friendly, on hearing of our discom- 
fiture, had broken into rebellion. In order to ascertain the 
truth, I forthwith despatched messengers, accompanied 
by Indians as guides, to whom I gave directions to avoid 
the beaten road until they arrived at Vera Cruz, and that 
they should inform me as soon as possible of the state 
of things there. It pleased our Lord that they should 
find the Spaniards well and the natives very quiet in that 
place. This intelligence made full amends for our losses 
and troubles ; although to our people there the news of 
what had befallen us and our overthrow was very 
painful. 

I remained in this province of Tascaltecal twenty days, 
for the purpose of healing my wounds,* which had grown 
much worse, especially the wound on my head, from 
want of attention on our march ; and likewise to heal the 
wounded of my company, some of whom, however, died 
in consequence both of their wounds and excessive 
fatigue ; others remained maimed and lame, from the 
severity of their wounds, and the want of proper atten- 
tion. I myself lost two fingers from my left hand. 

* Cortes was wounded severely in the head, leg, and hand.— L. 



170 LETTERS OF CORTES. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

My companions — ^many of whom having perished, and 
those who survived being broken in spirits, wounded, 
and disheartened by dangers and the toils they had en- 
dured, as well as the prospect of those yet to come, 
which seemed to be near at hand — often begged me to 
proceed to Vera Cruz, where we should have some 
strength, before the natives, now our friends, should dis- 
cover our reduced condition and weakness, and confede- 
rate with our enemies to deprive us of the ports from 
which we might depart, attacking us on one side, and 
the people of Vera Cruz on the other ; while if both our 
parties were united, having ships too at our command, 
we should be stronger, and better able to defend our- 
selves in case they should attack us, while we sent to 
the islands for aid. But seeing that to exhibit to the 
natives, especially to our friends, a want of courage, 
would be a more speedy motive for them to abandon us 
and take sides against us ; feeling also assured that 
fortune always favors the brave, and reflecting that we 
were Christians, trusting in the mercy and goodness of 
God, who would not suffer us to lose utterly so great 
and noble a land, that had submitted to your Majesty, 
and was on the point of being tranquillized ; and being- 
unwilling to relinquish the performance of so great a ser- 
vice as would be rendered by continuing the war until 
the country was again restored to its former peaceful 
condition — ^I determined by no means to go down to the 
ports on the seaboard, preferring to encounter every toil 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 171 

and danger that could possibly lie in our way. I said 
to them that I would not abandon this land ; for that it 
appeared to me not only disgraceful to myself and 
dangerous to all, but as rank treason to your Majesty ; 
and that I was resolved to turn again in pursuit of the 
enemy wherever I could find him, and assail him by 
every means in my power. 

Accordingly, after having been twenty days in this 
province, although not yet cured of my wounds, and my 
companions being still languid, I departed from it, and 
entered another called Tepeaca, which was in alliance 
with our enemies of Culua. I had received information 
of ten or twelve Spaniards having been killed in this 
province while on their way from Vera Cruz to the great 
city, the road leading through it. The province of Te- 
peaca has a common boundary with Tascaltecal and 
Chururtecal, being of wide extent. As we entered the 
province, a large number of its people sallied forth to 
meet us, and vigorously fighting defended the passage 
as much as was in their power, taking their stations in 
strong and well fortified buildings. But not to enter 
into particulars of what occurred during this campaign, 
to avoid prolixity, I will only say, that after having re- 
quired of them to render obedience to the commands of 
your Majesty, as the only terms on which peace could be 
preserved, they refused, and we made war upon them, 
meeting them in several battles. By the aid of God, and 
the royal success of your Highness, we constantly de- 
feated them with great slaughter, while throughout the 
whole war they neither killed nor wounded a single 
Spaniard. Although, as I have already stated, this pro- 
vince is of great extent, in twenty days I reduced many 
towns and a large population into subjection. Its nobles 



172 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

and leading men have yielded themselves vassals 
to your Majesty ; and I have besides driven out of it 
many Culuans who had come to aid the people in making 
war against us, and to prevent them from becoming our 
friends, either by force or consent. I have encountered, 
however, some obstacles in conducting this war, and 
even now it is not finished, since there are some towns 
and people left to be reduced, which with the aid of our 
Lord will soon become like the others, subject to the 
royal dominion of your Majesty. 

In a certain part of this province, where the ten 
Spaniards were killed, as the people are constantly com- 
mitting hostilities and are very rebellious, yielding to 
force of arms only, I made a number of slaves, the fifth 
of whom was assigned to the magistrates of your High- 
ness. Besides having murdered the Spaniards and 
rebelled against your Majesty, these people eat human 
flesh, a fact so notorious that I have not taken the trouble 
to send your Majesty any proof of it. I was also led to 
make slaves of these people in order to strike terror into 
the Culuans ; and because there are so many of that kind 
of people, that if I do not inflict a heavy and severe 
punishment upon them they will not reform. In this 
war we were assisted by the natives of the provinces of 
Tascaltecal, Churultecal, and Guasuzingo, where a con- 
firmed friendship exists with us, and we have good reason 
to believe that they will always prove loyal vassals to 
your Majesty. 

While I was in the province of Tepeaca carrying on 
this war, I received letters from Vera Cruz, informing 
me that two ships of Francisco de Garay had arrived at 
that port in distress ; that as it appeared, he had sent 
more people to the great river of which I gave an account 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 173 

to your Highness, and the natives had attacked them, 
killing seventeen or eighteen Christians and wounding 
many more. They had also killed seven horses ; and 
the Spaniards who survived had swam to their ships, 
having made their escape by being fleet of foot; and 
the captain and all the rest had arrived disheartened and 
wounded, who were well received by the officer I had 
left in command of the town, and had every attention 
paid to their wounds j but in order that they might 
have a better opportunity of recovering, he had sent a 
part of them to the abode of a cacique, a friend of ours, 
in that neighborhood, where they were well taken care 
of. All this sad intelligence affected us in a similar 
manner with our own past sufferings ; and probably this 
trouble would not have befallen them, had they come to 
me on a former occasion, as I have already given your 
Majesty an account. For, as I was well informed of 
every thing in that part of the country, they would have 
received such advice from me as to have prevented what 
has occurred ; especially as the lord of that river and 
land, which is called Panuco, had enrolled himself as 
one of your Majesty's vassals, in token of which he had 
sent to me at Temixtitan certain things by his messen- 
gers, as I have related. I have written to Vera Cruz, 
that if the captain of Francisco de Garay and his people 
wish to depart, to give them an opportunity, and afford 
them and their ships in getting away every possible 
assistance. 

After having reduced to subjection all that part of th© 
province of Tepeaca which is still held in quiet alle- 
giance to your Highness, the officials of your Majesty 
and myself consulted much as to the proper mode of 
governing it so as to promote the security of the province. 

23 



174 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Seeing that the natives of it, after acknowledging them- 
selves your Majesty's vassals, had rebelled and put to 
death the Spaniards, and thatthey are situated on the road 
and pass by which all intercourse is carried on between 
the seaports and the interior ; and considering that if this 
province should be left to itself, as before, the natives of 
the country and seigniory of Culua, which adjoins them, 
would strive to seduce and draw them again into re- 
belhon and insurrection, from which great mischief would 
result, and great obstacles to the security of these parts 
and the service of your Majesty, that would put an end 
to the intercourse above mentioned ; especially since on 
the road to the seacoast there are two mountain passes 
which are rough and unsafe, lying wdthin this province, 
and easily defended by the inhabitants ; and as on this 
account, as well as for other reasons and causes of great 
importance, it appeared to us that in order to avoid these 
evils there ought to be in this province of Tepeaca a 
town, situated in a favorable location, possessing the 
necessary qualities for the convenience of its inhabitants ; 
I, for the purpose of carrying this design into effect, in 
the name of your Majesty, gave to the proposed town the 
name of Segura de la Frontera,* and appointed the al- 
caldes, regidores and other officials, conformably to 
the usual custom. And for the better security of the 
citizens of this town in the place marked out by me, the 
materials were at once begun to be collected for building 
a fort, which exist here of a good quality, and the great- 
est possible despatch was used in the work. 

While engaged in writing this relation,! there came to 

* This place does not now retain the name of Segura, but the old one of Te- 
peaca. — L. 

t This letter of Cortes was written at Segura de la Frontera, at least the latter 
part of it, as itis dated there. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 175 

me several messengers from the lord of a city five leagues 
distant from this province, called Guacahula,* situated 
at the entrance of a mountain pass, which is on the r©wte 
from thence to Mexico, who on behalf of that lord said 
to me, that several days since they would have come tome 
to render your Majesty the obedience they owed, and 
to offer themselves as vassals ; that I must not blame 
them by supposing that the failure was with their consent ; 
but they would inform me that several CuluaQ chiefs 
were lodged in their city ; and in it and a league from it 
there were thirty thousand men in garrison,f guarding that 
pass to prevent our going through it, and also to prevent 
the inhabitants of the city and the n,€ighbo»ring provinces 
from serving your Highness, or being our friends. That 
they would have come to offer their loyal service if 
those people had not hindered, and they gave me this 
information that I might devise a remedy ; since, be- 
sides the obstacles thrown in the way of their wishes, 
the citizens and all the neighboring people were greatly 
injured by this state of things ; and as there were many 
armed men collected, the people were aggrieved and ill- 
treated by them, being deprived of their women, farms, 
&c. ; and I might see they were ready to do whatever I 
directed, if I only afforded them protection. 

Immediately after having thanked them for their in- 
formation and offers, I gave them thirteen horse and two 
hundred foot, to go with them, together with about 
thirty thousand of our Indian allies. The plan was to 
make the attack by surprise, and that when they ap- 
proached the city, the lord and the natives, and the rest 
of his vassals and supporters, should be in readiness and 
surround the quarters in which the officers were lodged, 

* Huaquechula — a republic. — L. t These were Culuan or Mexican troops. 



176 liETTERS OF COETES. 

and seize and kill them before the troops could come to 
their relief; and that when the latter should come, the 
Spaniards were to be already in the city, and prepared 
to fight and put them to route. When they had gone, 
and the Spaniards with them, they all proceeded to the 
city of Churukecal, and through some part of the pro- 
vince of Guasucingo, bordering upon the territory of 
Guacachula, within four leagues of it; and it is said the 
Spaniards were told in a town of the province of Guasu- 
cingo, that the inhabitants of that province were leagued 
with those of Guacachula and Culua, to draw by this 
artifice the Spaniards into that city, that they might at- 
tack them with united forces and destroy them. And 
as the fear excited by the Culuans in their city and coun- 
try had not wholly left our men, this information spread 
consternation among the Spaniards ; and the commander 
I had sent with them made an examination according to 
the best of his judgment, when they arrested all the 
chiefs of Guasucingo that were with them, and the mes- 
sengers from the city of Guacachula, and returned with 
them as prisoners to the city of Churultecal, four leagues 
from that place ; and from thence they sent to me all 
the prisoners, attended by several horse and foot, with 
the evidence they had of their plans. The captain also 
wrote me that our men were alarmed, as it appeared to 
them the affair would be one of great difficulty. As soon 
as the prisoners had arrived, I spoke to them by inter- 
preters, and having used the greatest diligence to ascer- 
tain the truth, it seemed to me that the captain had mis- 
understood them. I therefore caused them to be set at 
liberty, and satisfied them that I fully believed them to 
be loyal vassals of your sacred Majesty, and that I would 
go in person to rout the Culuans ; and in order to exhibit 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 177 

no weakness or fear to the natives of the country, as 
well friends as enemies, it seemed to me necessary that 
the enterprise which had been commenced should not 
be abandoned. That I might relieve the Spaniards of 
their fears, I determined to lay aside business and the 
writing of my despatch to your Majesty, in which I was 
engaged, and immediately set out, in the greatest pos- 
sible haste, and arrived the same day at the city of Chu- 
rultecal, eight leagues from this place, where I found the 
Spaniards, who all declared that there was no doubt of 
the treason. 

The next day I went to sleep at the town of Guasu- 
cingo, where the chiefs had been arrested. The day 
following, after having arranged matters with the mes- 
sengers of Guacachula at what points we should enter 
the city, I set out for it one hour before day-break, 
and arrived near it at about ten o'clock. When half a 
league distant, there came along the road certain mes- 
sengers from the city, and informed me that every thing 
had been provided and was in readiness, and that the 
Culuans knew nothing of our coming, as the spies they 
had placed on the road had been taken by the natives 
of the city ; and that they had also taken others whom 
the Culuan commanders had sent to visit the enclosures 
and towers of the city, that they might survey the field ; 
and thus the enemy were all quite off their guard, sup- 
posing that they were sufficiently protected from surprise 
by their sentinels and scouts ; so that my arrival would 
not be perceived. Thus I made great haste in going to 
the city without being discovered, although I had to pass 
over a plain from which they might easily see us. Ac- 
cordingly it appeared that we were discovered by our 
friends in the city, as we were so near, who immediately 



178 LETTERS 0F CORTES. 

ran to the quarters of the Culuan captains, and began 
to attack the others scattered about the city. When I 
had arrived within arrow-shot of the city, they had already 
made about forty prisoners, and I hastened to enter it. 
A very loud noise was heard throughout the streets of the 
place, which arose from the combat going on. Guided 
by a native of the city, I reached the quarters of the 
captains, which I found surrounded by more than three 
thousand men, fighting to enter the door. They had 
taken the upper stories and the terraces, but the captains 
and those with them fought so stoutly and vigorously, 
that the assailants could not force an entrance, although 
the former were few in number ; because, besides the 
valor with which they fought, the building itself was very 
strong. As soon as I arrived, we entered, and so many 
of the citizens rushed in that I could not prevent the im- 
mediate death of the captains ; for I wished to save the 
lives of some of them in order to obtain information of 
the affairs of the great city, and who had succeeded Mu- 
teczuma after his death, &c. I rescued only one, more 
dead than alive, from whom I learned what I shall here- 
after relate. 

Throughout the city they killed many Culuans who 
were quartered there ; and those who were alive when I 
entered the place, knowing my arrival, began to fly to- 
wards the garrison, many of whom .perished in the act of 
escaping. The tumult was quickly heard and understood 
by those in the garrison, as it occupied a lofty situation, 
commanding the whole city and the adjacent plain, so that 
almost at the same moment those who had fled from the 
city, and the people who had come to its relief, and to 
see what was taking place, met — of whom there were 
more than thirty thousand men, the most showy people 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 179 

we had yet seen, for they wore jewels of gold, silver, 
. and feathers ; and as the city is large, they began to set 
fire to it at the quarter where they entered ; this soon 
came to the knowledge of the natives, and I sallied forth 
with only the horse, as the foot were very much fatigued. 
We rushed upon them, when they drew back into a nar- 
row pass, which we entered, following in their rear, and 
pursued them up a very rugged declivity ; so that when 
we had reached the top of the elevation, neither the ene- 
my nor ourselves were able to advance or retreat. Many 
of them fell down dead there from the effects of the heat, 
without any wounds ; and two horses were unable to 
move, and some died. We did them much injury. Ma- 
ny of our Indian allies came to our assistance, and being 
fresh, while the enemy were almost dead, they despatched 
many of them. In this manner the field was soon cleared 
of those that survived, although somewhat covered with 
the dead ; and we reached the barracks they had newly 
• built in the fields, which were divided into three parts, 
each of which seemed a good sized village ; since besides 
the soldiers they had large retinues of servants and ex- 
tensive supplies for their camp ; and I afterwards learn- 
ed that there were many persons of distinction among 
them. The whole was despoiled and consumed by the 
Indians, our allies, of whom I assure your Majesty there 
were assembled more than one hundred thousand men.* 
Having by this victory driven the enemy out of the coun- 
try, pursuing them until they had passed certain bridges 
and narrow defiles, we returned to the city, where we 
were well received and quartered by the inhabitants; 

* On account of these acts of the pveople of Huaqjiechula, many privileges 
were granted them, which they retain to this day. — L. 



ISO LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and we rested three days in that city, having great need 
of repose. 

At this time there came to submit themselves to the 
royal service of your Majesty the numerous population 
inhabiting the mountainous country, situated two leagues 
from the place where the enemy had pitched their 
camp, and at the foot of the mountain from which, 
as I have mentioned, smoke issues ; this people are call- 
ed Ocupatuyo.* They stated that their cacique had gone 
away with the Culuans at the time when we pursued 
them, supposing that we should not stop short of his 
town ; that they had for many days desired my friend- 
ship, and would have come to acknowledge themselves 
vassals of your Majesty, but that the cacique would not 
permit them, not desiring it himself, although they had 
often requested him to allow it. That they now wished 
to serve your Highness ; and that there was left a brother 
of the cacique who had always been of their opinion in 
this matter, and still was so. They therefore requested ' 
that he might succeed to the government of the district ; 
and that although the other should return, I should not 
consent to his being received as cacique, and that they 
should not so receive him. I answered them, that as 
they had been until now of the Culuan league and party, 
and rebels against the service of your Majesty, they de- 
served a severe punishment, which I had thought of exe- 
cuting on their persons and estates ; but that since they 
had come forward and declared the cause of their 
rebellion and insurrection was the cacique who governed 
them, that I, in the name of your Majesty, pardoned their 
past errors, and received and admitted them into the 
royal service ; but as soon as I should discover that they 

* Ocuituco, which is at the base of the volcano — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 181 

had again erred, they should be surely punished. I 
added, that if they proved to be loyal subjects of your 
Highness, they would receive favor and assistance at 
my hands in the royal name ; and they promised ac- 
cordingly. 

This city of Guacachula is situated on a plain, bounded 
on one side by a range of lofty and precipitous moun- 
tains ; the other sides are bordered by two streams, run- 
ning through large and deep ravines, two bow-shots 
distant from one another. The avenues to the city are 
few in number, and extremely difficult both in the ascent 
and descent, so that they can hardly be passed on horse- 
back. The whole city is surrounded by a wall of great 
strength, built of stone and lime, more than twenty feet 
in height on the outside, and almost even with the ground 
on the inside. Along the wall there is erected a breast- 
work or battlement nearly three feet high, to protect them 
in fighting ; and there are four entrances, so broad that 
one can pass through on horseback. At each entrance 
there are three or four bends in the extremities of the 
wall, doubling over one another; and each of these 
bends of the wall has its breastwork on it for fighting. 
Throughout the whole circuit of the walls there are heaps 
of stones, large and small, and of all shapes, for use in 
combat. The city contains five or six thousand families, 
and there are as many more in the villages subject to it. 
The situation is uncommonly fine, and within the city 
are numerous gardens, filled as usual with fruits and 
sweet scented herbs.* 

After having reposed three or four days in this city, 

* Clavigero says, " Quauhquecliallan is called by the Spaniards Guaqueechula, 
or Huacachula. At present it is a pleusant Lidian village, abounding with good 
fruit." 

24 



182 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

we proceeded to another city, called Izucan, four leagues 
from Guacachula ; for I was informed that there had 
also been a large number of Cnluans in garrison at that 
place, to whom the city, and several towns and villages 
adjacent to it, were tributary ; and the inhabitants were 
represented as very friendly to the Cnluans, on account 
of its cacique being a native of Culua, and even a rela- 
tive of Muteczuma. In my progress thither I was accom- 
panied by so great a multitude of natives, vassals of your 
Majesty, that they almost covered the fields and hills as 
far as we could see y and in truth, there were more than 
one hundred and twenty thousand men. We arrived 
over against the city of Izucan at ten o'clock ; all the 
women and feeble persons had been removed from it, 
but there remained five or six thousand warriors, well 
equipped. When we had come in front of the place, 
they attempted to defend it ; but the attempt was soon 
abandoned, when it was discovered that we had been 
guided to that side of the city where the entrance was 
the least difficult. We pursued the enemy through the 
town, forcing them to leap from the top of the walls, and 
cross the river that almost encircles the place in its course. 
They destroyed the bridges in their flight, which circum- 
stance delayed us somewhat in crossing, but we con- 
tinued the pursuit for a league and a half, and I think 
few of them escaped who had remained in the city. 

On returning to the place, I sent two of its inhabitants, 
who had been made prisoners, to the principal persons, 
desiring them to return to the city, for the cacique had 
departed with the Culuans who had occupied the garri- 
son ; and I promised them in your Majesty's name, that 
if they became loyal vassals to your Highness, they 
would henceforth be well treated, and their rebellion and 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. IS3 

past offences pardoned. The messenger went, and in 
three days from that time some of the principal citizens 
came and asked pardon for their error, declaring that 
they had been unable to avoid doing what they had done, 
as they were compelled to obey the commands of their 
lord ; and they promised that henceforth, as their lord 
had gone away and abandoned them, they would truly 
and loyally serve your Majesty. I assured them of their 
safety, and bade them return to their houses, and bring 
back their women and children, who had been carried to 
other places and towns in alliance with the Culuans ; 
and I directed them to tell the natives of those places 
to come to me, and I would overlook the past ; and that 
they must not compel me to march against them, as they 
would suffer great injury, and it would be extremely 
painful for me to inflict it on them. 

Accordingly in two days after the inhabitants of Izu- 
can returned to their homes, and all the people subject 
to them came to acknowledge themselves the vassals of 
your Highness ; and so all that province remained secure 
and steady in its allegiance as our allies and those of 
the people of Guacachula. A question arose as to whom 
appertained the government of the city and province of 
Izucan in the absence of the cacique, who had gone to 
Mexico. It appeared that there had been some contro- 
versy and party division between a natural son of the 
native lord of the country who had been put to death 
by Muteczuma, (the former being now in possession of 
the office, and married to his niece,) and on the other 
side a grandson of the native lord, a son of his legiti- 
mate daughter, the wife of the lord of Guacachula, 
whose son was thus the grandson of the native lord of 
Izucan. It was now agreed amongst them that this son 



184 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

of the lord of Guacachula, descended in a legitimate 
line from the old caciques of the province, should inherit 
the government ; since the other claimant being an ille- 
gitimate son was not entitled to the heirship. Homage 
was accordingly rendered in my presence to Muchacho, 
(the name of the young prince,) then about ten years of 
age ; and because he was too young to administer the 
government, his illegitimate uncle and three other princi- 
pal citizens, one from the city of Guacachula, and the 
two others of Izucan, v;ere appointed regents, who were 
also entrusted with the care of Muchacho until he was 
of an age to govern. 

The city of Izucan contains about three or four thou- 
sand families ; its streets and places of trade are well 
disposed ; it had a hundred temples, and very substan- 
tial oratories with towers, all of which were consumed. 
It stands on a plain sloping from a moderate eminence, 
on which there is a good fortification ; and on the other 
side beyond the plain, it is washed by a deep river which 
runs near the wall ; and a ravine, formed by the lofty 
banks of the river, passes round it. Above the ravine 
there is constructed a breastwork, completely enclosing 
the city, about five feet in height, and a great quantity 
of stones are collected in piles throughout its whole cir- 
cuit. The city had in its environs a valley, extremely 
fertile in fruits and in cotton, which does not grow in any 
of the mountainous tracts on account of the severity of the 
cold ; here the climate is warm, from its being sheltered 
by the mountains. All this valley is watered by excel- 
lent conduits, which are well formed and arranged. 

I remained in this city until I saw its inhabitants re- 
settled in peace ; and while I was there the lord of a 
city called Guajocingo, and another from another city 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 185 

ten leagues from Izucan, and on the frontiers of Mexico, 
also came to offer their homage as vassals of your Ma- 
jesty. There also came persons from eight towns in the 
province of Coastoaca [Oaxaca], w^hich is one of v^hich 
I have made mention before, as having been seen by the 
Spaniards. I sent to search for gold in the province of Zu- 
zula, [Zacatula], where, and in thatof Tamazula,* adjoin- 
ing it, I remarked there was a very large population with 
houses extremely well built, of better stone than is seen 
in any of these parts of the country. The province of 
Coastoaca is forty leagues from Izucan ; and the persons 
from the eight towns in that province professed allegiance 
as vassals of your Highness, and stated that four others 
that were left behind would soon arrive. They begged 
that I would pardon them for not having come before, as 
they were prevented by fear of the Culuans ; and they 
declared that they had never taken up arms against me, 
nor caused the death of any Spaniard ; and that since 
they had submitted themselves to your Highness, they 
would be your true and loyal vassals to perform your 
will, although they had not dared to do so before on ac- 
count of their fear of the Culuans. So that your High- 
ness may be assured that if it please our Lord to grant 
you success, we shall in a very short period recover what 
has been lost, or a great part of it, as every day many 
provinces and cities come to swear allegiance to your 
Majesty, who have been subjects of Muteczuma, for they 
see that those who do this are well received and kindly 
treated by me, while those who act otherwise are every 
day destroyed. 

From the prisoners taken in the city of Guacachula, 
especially the one that was wounded, I obtained exten- 

* Tamazula is in the province of Sinaloa, on its southern coast. — L. 



186 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

sive information as to the state of things in the great city 
of Temixtitan ; in particular, how after the death of 
Muteczuma, his brother, named Cuetravacin, lord of the 
city of Iztapalapa, had succeeded him in the govern- 
ment ; since the son of Muteczuma who was the heir to 
the throne had perished at the bridges, and of his two 
other sons who had been left by us alive, one was an 
idiot and the other paralytic. For these reasons the 
brother had succeeded to the throne, who had already 
declared war against us, and was esteemed by them a 
valiant and prudent man. I was also informed that the 
Mexicans were erecting fortifications both in the city and 
in other parts of their dominions, and were engaged in 
preparing walls, subterranean passages, ditches, and 
different kinds of arms. Of the latter were heavy lances, 
like pikes, for horsemen, some of which we had already 
seen in the province of Tepeaca, where the enemy had 
fought with them; and also in the farm-houses and 
buildings in which the Culuans had been quartered in 
Guacachula, many of these arms had been found. Of 
many other things I was likewise informed ; but not 
wishing to be prolix in my accounts to your Majesty, I 
omit the recital. 

I despatched to the island of Espanola four ships, to 
bring immediately horses and men for our relief; and I 
also sent to purchase four others for the purpose of trans- 
porting from the same island and the city of St. Domingo, 
horses, arms, crossbows and powder, as being the most 
wanted in this country ; for foot soldiers bearing small 
bucklers are of but little use alone, in the midst of so great 
multitudes of people, possessing such strong and extensive 
cities and fortifications. I also wrote to the Licentiate, 
Rodrigo de Figueroa and the ofiicials of your Highness, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 187 

who reside on that island, that ihey should do all in their 
power to aid and assist in these things, as it was of so great 
importance to your Majesty's service and the security 
of our persons ; since I intended whenever these succors 
should arrive to return to the great city and its domin- 
ions ; and I believed, as I have already said to your Ma- 
jesty, that I should in a very short time be restored to 
the condition in which I before was, and recover past 
losses. In the meantime, I am employed in building 
twelve brigantines for use on the lakes,* and already the 
decks and other parts of the vessels are in readiness, 
which are to be transported by land, so as to be put 
together in a short time immediately on our arrival there ; 
and for the same purpose we are collecting nails, pitch, 
oakum, sails, oars, and other necessary articles. And I 
assure your Majesty that I shall not think of rest until 
this object is accomplished, nor cease to labor for it in 
every possible way and manner, to whatever degree of 
toil, peril, or expense it may expose me. 

Two or three days ago I learned by letter from the 
lieutenant commanding in my place at Vera Cruz, that 
a small caravel had arrived there with about thirty men, 
both seamen and landsmen, who report that they 
had come in quest of the men sent by Francisco de 
Garay to this country, of whom I have already given 
your Highness an account, and of their having arrived 
in great want of provisions, in such distress that if 
they had not obtained a supply from us, they would have 
perished with hunger and thirst. I was informed that 
this caravel had been to the river Panuco, and had re- 
mained there thirty days, without seeing any person in 

* Tradition uniformly says that this labor was perfonned in a certain quarter 
of Hueyotlipan., called Cuausimalan, that is. Where they make masU.'-~L, ' 



188 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the whole river or land ; from whence they inferred that 
on account of what had occurred, the people had aban- 
doned the country. Those in the caravel also informed 
me, that two other ships of Francisco de Garay had 
sailed soon after them, with men and horses, and they 
believed they must have passed down the coast. It 
seemed to me that it would promote the service of your 
Highness to prevent those ships and the men in them 
from being lost, and to guard against tlie natives doing 
them even greater injury than the former party uninformed 
as they were of what had occurred in the country ; I there- 
fore sent the caravel in search of the two ships, in order 
to apprize them of what had passed, and advise their 
coming to Vera Cruz, where was the first captain sent 
by Francisco de Garay, waiting their arrival, should it 
please God that they fall in with them, and in time to 
prevent their landing ; since the natives were already on 
the look out for them, and the Spaniards not being aware 
of it I had reason to fear would suffer much injury, to 
the great disservice of God our Lord and your Highness ; 
for it would be the means of whetting the appetites of 
those blood-thirsty dogs, and give them resolution and 
spirit to attack those who should come after. 

I have already mentioned that I heard of the elevation 'of 
a brother of Muteczuma to the government after the death 
of the latter, and that this prince, who was named Cue- 
travecin [Cuithahuatzin], was preparing many kinds of 
arms, and fortifying the great city and other cities around 
the lakes. I have since learned that Cuetravecin has 
sent bis messengers throughout the land, the provinces, 
and cities subject to his power, to declare to and assure 
his vassals, that he will acquit them for one year of all 
tributes and services that they are bound to pay, and that 






CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 189 

they shall be free from giving or paying any thing — pro- 
vided that, by every means in their power, they wage an 
exterminating war against all Christians, either killing 
them, or driving them out of the country ; and that they 
should treat in the same manner all natives who are our 
friends and allies. Although I have hope in our Lord 
that they will not succeed in any respect according to 
their plan and intentions, I find myself in the most ex- 
treme necessity of aiding and succoring the Indians 
friendly to us ; since every day they come from nume- 
rous cities, towns, and countries to beg assistance from 
us against the Indians of Culua, their enemies and ours, 
who wage war on them because they are in friendship 
and alliance with us ; and I am unable to render aid in 
every quarter, as I would wish. But as I have said, 
should it please our Lord, he will supply our want of 
strength, and send quickly his own succor, as well as 
that we have asked for from Espaiiola. 

Inasmuch as this country so far as I have been able 
to examine and form an opinion bears a striking resem- 
blance to Spain, as well in the fertility of the soil, as in 
its extent, and the coolness of its climate, and in many 
other respects, it seemed to me that the most suitable 
name that could be given to it was New Spain of the 
ocean-sea ; and as this name was conferred upon it in 
the name of your Majesty, I humbly entreat your High- 
ness to confirm and direct that it shall be so called. 

I have written to your Majesty, although in a poor 
style, the truth as to all that has transpired in these parts, 
and whatever it is necessary yonr Highness should be 
informed of; and in the other despatch that goes with 
the present one, I send to beg your royal Excellency to 
appoint a person of high character to come hither and 

25 



190 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

make inquiry and investigation as to every thing for the 
information of your sacred Majesty ; in this despatch, 
likewise, I most humbly entreat the same thing, since I 
shall consider it in the light of a distinguished favor, as 
the means of imparting entire credit to what I write. 

Most noble and most excellent Prince, may God our 
Lord preserve the life and very royal person and most 
powerful state of your sacred Majesty, and grant you for 
a long period the addition of as many greater kingdoms 
and dominions as your royal heart may desire. Dated 
at La Villa de la Frontera of this New Spain, the 30th of 
October, 1520. 

From your sacred Majesty's most humble servant and 

vassal, who kisses the very royal feet and hands of your 

Highness. 

FERNAN. CORTES. 



NOTE.* 

Afterwards, in the month of March following, there 
came news from New Spain, that the Spaniards had 
taken the great city of Temixtitan by storm ; when a 
greater number of Lidians perished than of Jews in the 
destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian, and in it were 
more people than in that holy city. They found little 
treasure, because the inhabitants had taken and thrown 
it into the waters ; they obtained only 200,000 pesos, and 
the Spaniards remained well fortified in the city, of whom 
there are now in it fifteen hundred foot and five hundred 
horse ; and they have in the field more than one hundred 

* This note appears to have been added to the first edition of this tetter, in 
1522, Ijefore the receipt of the second letter in Spain. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 191 

thousand Indians, natives of the country, in their alhance. 
These are great things and strange, and it is without 
doubt a new world, which we who hve on its borders 
have an eager desire to see. This news is to April the 
first, 1522, which we as yet deem worthy of belief. 

The present Letter or Narrative [Carta de Relacion] 
was printed in the most noble and loyal city of Seville, 
by Jacob Crombreger, of Germany, on the 8th day of 
October, 1522.* 

* From tHs date it is known, that the impression of this Letter was the first 
specimen of the art of printing at Seville, and perchance in all Spain ; since the 
Complutensian Bible is the first printed work, celebrated as published at the 
expense of the great Cardinal Don Fray Francisco Ximenes de Cisneros. — L. 

This is incorrect ; according to Panzer, {Annales Ti/pographici, etc.) the first 
printing was done at Seville in 1501, and several pubUcations appeared prior to 
1522. The Complutensian Polyglott Bible of Cardinal Ximenes was printed 
in 151-1-17. 



I 



LETTER III. 
. THE THIRD LETTER OR RELATION 

SENT BY 

HERNANDO CORTES, 

CAPTAIN AND CHIEF MAGISTRATE Of YUCATAN, CALLED NEW SPAIN OF THE OCEAN SEA, 

TO THE 

MOST NOBLE LORD DON CARLOS, EMPEROR, 

Concerning the wonderful events of the conquest and recovery of the great and 
admirable city of Temixtitan, and other tributary provinces, which had re- 
belled. 

Printed at Seville by J. Crombreger Aleraan ; the printing was finished on the 
30th of March, 1523. 



NOTE. 

On the preceding page tlie title of the original edition 
of this Letter is translated from Ternaux's Bibliotheque 
Americaine. A second edition was published the same 
year, it seems, at Saragossa, by George Coci Aleman. 

The suffix Aleman added to the names of these early 
printers signifies German, or from Germany. 



LETTERS OR DESPATCHES 



HERNANDO CORTES, 



EMPEROR CHARLES V, 



LETTER m. 

Dated at the Citij of Cuyoacan, (Mexico,) May 15th, 1522. 

Most High and Potent Prince : Most Catholic 

and Invincible Emperor, King and Lord : 

Alonzo de Mendoza, a native of Medellin, whom I 
despatched from this New Spain on the fifth of March, 
in the past year 1521, was the bearer of the second re- 
lation that I addressed to your Majesty, containing an 
account of all that had transpired in this country; 
which I finished writing on the thirtieth of October, 1520, 
but on account of unfavorable weather, and the loss of 
three ships, by one of which I had intended to forward 
my relation to your Majesty, and by the others to send 
for aid to the island of Espanola, much delay arose on 
the part of Mendoza, as I have already more fully in- 
formed your Majesty. In the concluding part of that 
despatch I stated to your Majesty, that after we had been 
forcibly expelled from the city of Temixtitan, I had 
marched against the province of Tepeaca, one of its 



196 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

tributaries, that had joined in the rebellion against us ; 
and that with the assistance of the Spaniards who had 
survived, and our Indian allies, I had succeeded in re- 
ducing it again into subjection to your Majesty. I 
also mentioned that on account of the treason of this 
people, and the great losses they had occasioned to the 
Spaniards, some of whom had perished by their hands, 
all which was still fresh in our minds, I had determined 
to return in a hostile manner against the great city, which 
had been the cause of all this trouble ; and that for this 
purpose I should commence building thirteen brigantines, 
or small sailing vessels, in order with them to accomplish 
as much as possible to the injury of the city, if its inha- 
bitants persevered in their treasonable designs. I also 
wrote to your Majesty that while the vessels were build- 
ing, and I and our Indian allies were making prepara- 
tions to return against the enemy, I sent to Espanola for 
recruits of men, horses, artillery, and arms, and for this 
purpose I wrote to your Majesty's officials resident there ; 
and I forwarded money sufficient to defray the cost and 
expenses of all that was necessary for our relief. Your 
Majesty may be assured that I have not thought of enjoy- 
ing a moment's repose, nor shall cease to feel the deepest 
anxiety in regard to this matter, until victory is secure ; 
disregarding whatever of danger, labor and cost may 
attend this determination, while preparing to take up our 
line of march from the province of Tepeaca. 

I also informed your Majesty that there had arrived at 
the port of Vera Cruz a caravel belonging to Francisco de 
Garay, lieutenant-governor of the island of Jamaica, in 
great distress, with about thirty persons on board ; and 
that two other ships had sailed for the river Panuco, 
where the natives had attacked and routed a captain of 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 197 

Francisco de Garay, and it was feared that if these landed 
there, they would likewise suffer from the hostility of the 
natives. I also wrote your Majesty that I had taken the 
precaution to despatch immediately a vessel in quest of 
those ships, to advise them of what had occurred ; and 
no sooner had I w^ritten this, than it pleased God one of 
the ships should arrive at the port of Vera Cruz, in which 
came a captain with about twenty-five men, who was 
there apprised of what had befallen the other party, ac^ 
cording to the information received from the commander 
himself; and I assured them that if they went to the 
river Panuco, they would be exposed to great danger 
from the Indians. While they yet lay in the harbor with 
the determination of going to that river, there arose a 
storm attended by a violent wind, which forced the ship 
to depart with the loss of its cables, and to run into a port 
on the coast twelve leagues above, called San Juan ;* 
when after landing all the people, together with seven or 
eight horses and as many mares, they hauled up the 
ship for repairs on account of its having sprung aleak. 
As soon as I heard these particulars, I wrote immedi- 
ately to the captain, assuring him that I regretted very 
much what had occurred, and that I had sent directions 
to the commander at Vera Cruz to afford every possible 
aid to him and the people with him, supplying them with 
w^hatever they required ; that he should ascertain their 
plans, and if all or any of them wished to return in the 
ships that were there, he should give them leave, and 
allow them to depart freely. The captain and the per- 
sons who had arrived with him determined to remain, 
and to join me at the place where I was ; but of the other 

* The present Vera CriiZi 

26 



198 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

ship we have not received any intelligence to this mo- 
ment ; and as much time has elapsed, we are in great 
doubt as to her safety, unless it has pleased God to carry 
her into a good port. 

Being on the point of departing from the province of 
Tepeaca, I learned that two provinces called Zacatami 
and Jalazingo, subject to the lord of Temixtitan, through 
whose territory the road leads from Vera Cruz to the great 
city, had rebelled, and that the inhabitants being ill-dis- 
posed towards us had murdered several Spaniards who 
were on the road. In order to render the road secure, and 
visit these people with some punishment if they did not 
keep the peace, I despatched a captain with twenty horse 
and two hundred foot, and some of our Indian alHes, to 
whom I gave directions on the part of your Majesty, to 
require the inhabitants of those provinces to come and 
quietly submit themselves as vassals of your Majesty, as 
they had before done, and I would treat them with the 
utmost moderation in my power ; but that if they did not 
choose to take this course, I would make war upon them. 
I added, that after this was effected, and the two provinces 
were reduced to subjection, he should return with all the 
people to the city of Tascaltecal, where I would wait 
for him. So he departed, in the beginning of December, 
1520, and took the road for those provinces, which lie 
twenty leagues distant. 

After this, most powerful Sire, about the middle of 
December of said year, I left the town of Segura de la 
Frontera, which is in the province of Tepeaca, having 
placed there a captain and sixty men, according to the 
request of the natives ; and I sent all the foot to the city 
of Tascaltecal, wjiere were building the brigantines, 
which is nine or ten leagues from Tepeaca ; while I 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 19^ 

went the same day with twenty horse to sleep at the city 
of Cholula, whose inhabitants had desired me to come 
thither, inasmuch as on account of the sickness of small- 
pox which had attacked the people of these countries, as 
well as the islanders, many of their caciques had died, 
and they wished that others might be appointed in their 
place, by my hand, and in the presence of themselves 
and me. Having arrived there, we were extremely well 
received, and after having complied with their wishes in 
this matter, and given them to understand that my course 
was to enter in a warlike manner into the provinces of 
Mexico and Temixtitan, I desired them, since they were 
vassals of your Majesty, and as such must preserve their 
friendship with us, and we with them even to death, to 
aid me with men during the time I was compelled to 
carry on the war ; and that as for the Spaniards whom I 
should send to their country, and who would go and 
come through it, to treat them in such a manner as they 
were under obligation as friends to do. After they had 
promised to do as 1 requested, having remained in the 
city two or three days, I departed for Tascaltecal, six 
leagues distant ; and having arrived there, all the Spa- 
niards who were there and the inhabitants of that city 
assembled and testified their joy at my coming. The 
next day the nobles of the city and province came to 
speak with me, and to inform me that Magiscacin, who 
was the principal of all the nobility, had died of the 
small-pox, and they knew well that on account of our 
great friendship for each other, I should be much grieved 
at this event ; but he had left a son twelve or thirteen 
years of age to whom the rights of his father descended, 
and they begged of me that I would recognize him as 



^00 



LETTERS OF CORTES. 



the heir ; which I accordingly did, in the name of your 
Majesty, with w^hich they were all very much pleased. 

When I reached this city, I found that the master 
workmen and carpenters employed on the brigantines 
had used great expedition in framing the cross-timbers 
and decks, and had accomplished a reasonable amount 
of work ; and I at once sent off to Vera Cruz for all the 
iron and nails that were there, together with the sails, 
cordage, and other things necessary for the vessels ; and 
as there was no tar, I set some Spaniards about making 
gome on the adjacent mountains. Thus every provision 
required for the brigantines was attended to, in order 
that when it pleased God I should be in the provinces of 
Mexico and Temixtitan, I might be able to have them 
transported thither, a distance of ten or twelve leagues 
from the city of Tascaltecal ; and during the fifteen days 
that I remained in the latter city, I heard nothing else 
but the hurrying of the workmen, and the preparation 
of the arms for the purpose of giving security to our 
march. 

Two or three days before Christmas, the captain with 
the foot and horse that had gone against the provinces 
of Zacatami and Jalacingo arrived, from whom I learned 
that they had fought with some of the natives, and that 
at last the latter had sued for peace, some of them volun- 
tarily, and others through compulsion ; and they brought 
to me certain caciques of those provinces, whom I par- 
doned in your Majesty's name, and sent home, notwith- 
standing they deserved punishment for their rebellion and 
murder of Christians, upon their promise of good be- 
haviour hereafter, and that they would prove loyal vas- 
sals to your Majesty. Thus these difficulties were 
brought to a close, by means of which the service of 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 201 

your Majesty was much promoted, as well as in the 
pacification of the natives in that quarter, as from the 
security obtained for the Spaniards when compelled to 
go or come through those provinces to or from the town 
of Vera Cruz. 

The second day after Christmas I reviewed my forces 
in the city of Tascaltecal, and found forty horse and five 
hundred foot — eighty of them archers and musketeers, 
together with eight or nine field-pieces and a very small 
quantity of powder ; and I divided the horse into four 
companies of ten each, and of the foot I formed nine 
captaincies, each consisting of sixty Spaniards. After 
this inspection, when all were mustered together, I ad- 
dressed them in the following manner : 

I said that they must know as well as myself it was 
to promote the service of your sacred Majesty that we 
had established colonies in this country ; and they also 
knew that all the natives of it had acknowledged them- 
selves your Majesty's vassals, and as such had for some 
time persevered in receiving good offices from us, and 
we the same from them ; and that without any cause, 
the people of Culua, including those in the great city of 
Temixtitan, and all the other provinces subject to them, 
had not only rebelled against your Majesty, but even 
murdered several persons who were our kindred and 
friends, and. had driven us entirely out of their land ; 
and that they must likewise recollect what dangers and 
toils we had encountered, and at the same time be sensi- 
ble of how great service it would be to God and your 
Catholic Majesty to endeavor to recover what had been 
lost, having on our part the justest cause and the best 
reasons for so doing, as we should both contend for the 
ihcrease of our faith against a barbarous nation, and to 



202 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

promote the service of your Majesty. Induced also by 
a regard to our own safety, and having the co-operation 
of many of the friendly natives, there were powerful 
causes to animate our hearts, and I therefore begged 
them to engage cheerfully in the enterprise and take fresh 
courage. I added that I had in your Majesty's name 
issued certain ordinances to preserve good order and 
regulate the affairs of the war, which I had caused to be 
immediately published, and I also begged them to ob- 
serve and comply with these regulations, as it would 
redound much to the service of God and your Majesty. 

They all promised to do what I requested, and to 
comply with the ordinances, declaring that they would 
die with pleasure in defence of our faith and in the ser- 
vice of your Majesty, or recover what had been lost and 
revenge the treachery of which the people of Temixtitan 
and their allies had been guilty towards us. Thereupon, 
in the name of your Majesty, I expressed my satisfaction, 
and thus we returned with great pleasure to our quarters 
on the day of the review. 

The following day, which was that of St. John the 
Evangelist, [Dec. 27th] I sent for all the lords of the 
province of Tascaltecal, and when they had come, I 
said to them that they already knew I was to depart on 
the next day in order to enter the territory of our enemies, 
and that they must be aware we could not conquer the 
city of Temixtitan without some brigantines, which our 
people were then employed in building there, and on this 
account I desired them to supply the workmen and other 
Spaniards that I left behind, with whatever was neces- 
sary for this business, and treat them kindly, as they had 
ever done ; and that they should be in readiness when- 
ever I should send from the city of Tesaico, [Tezcuco,] 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 203 

(if God gave us victory) for the timbers and decks and 
other necessary things belonging to the brigantines. 
They promised me to do so, and expressed a desire to 
send their warriors with me, declaring that when the 
brigantines were removed, they would all go, with the 
whole population of their country, and that they would 
die with me, or be revenged on the Culuans, their mortal 
enemies. The next day, which was the 28th of De- 
cember, the day of the Innocents, I set out with all our 
force drawn up in order, and marched as far as a place 
called Tezmoluca, six leagues from Tascaltecal, in the 
province of Guajocingo, the inhabitants of which have 
always observed the same friendship and alliance with 
us as the people of Tascaltecal : and there we reposed 
for the night. 

In my former despatch, most Catholic Sire, I stated 
that the people of the provinces of Mexico and Temix- 
titan, as I was informed, had made great preparations 
of arms, and constructed fosses, entrenchments and 
fortresses to oppose our entrance, as they already knew 
my intention to return against them. Aware of this, and 
how skilful and ingenious they were in matters relating 
to war, I had often meditated in what manner I could 
take them by surprise. Since they understood that we 
possessed information of three routes or avenues, by each 
of which we could enter their territory, I determined to 
take this one by Tezmoluca ; because, as the pass over 
the mountains on this route was more rough and cragged 
than the others, I believed the resistance would not be so 
great, nor the enemy so well prepared. The next day 
after the Innocents, having heard mass, and committed 
ourselves to God, we set forth from Tezmoluca, my- 
self leading the van, with ten horse and sixty foot, 



204 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

lightly armed, composed of men inured to war. We 
pursued our route, leading up the pass in the best 
order and the utmost regularity, until we had gone four 
leagues from Tesmoluca, to the summit of the pass, 
where was the boundary of Culua ; and although the 
cold at that place was the most severe I had yet experi- 
enced, with much snow, we guarded against it that night, 
and the next day, being Sunday, we began to descend 
into the plain. I sent forward four horse and three or 
four foot to reconnoitre the country ; and when on our 
way down the pass, I ordered the horse in front, to be fol- 
lowed by the archers and musketeers, and then the rest 
of the army ; being satisfied that however unprepared 
we might find the enemy, they would sally forth to at- 
tack us on our route, using for that purpose some cunning 
stratagem or artifice to annoy us. When the four horse- 
men and four foot soldiers examined the road, they found 
it obstructed with trees and branches, and filled up and 
encumbered with large and heavy pines and cypresses, 
which appeared to have jast been cut ; and thinking that 
the road beyond might not be obstructed in this manner, 
they contrived to advance, but the further they proceeded 
the more obstructions they found. The horses advancing 
with difficulty, their fears increased as they continued 
their course, and when they had in this way proceeded 
a considerable distance, one of the four horsemen said 
to the others — "Brothers, let us not go any farther, if it 
please you, but return and inform the commander of the 
obstructions that we have found, and the great danger to 
which we are exposed in not being able to go on with the 
horses ; otherwise, let us proceed, although by so doing 
I expose my life, as you all do yours, until we reach the 
end of this route." The others ai^swered — " that his 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 205 

advice was good, but it did not appear to them proper to 
return to me till they had discovered some of the enemy, 
or ascertained how far this road extended." They then 
resumed their course, and when they saw that the road 
continued a great distance, they stopped, and sent one 
of the foot soldiers to inform me of what they had dis- 
covered. And when I had brought up the vanguard 
with the cavalry, commending ourselves tO' God we 
proceeded forward on that road, and I sent word to the 
rear-guard to make great haste, and entertain no fears, 
for we should soon come out upon the open land, free 
from obstructions. 

As soon as I had overtaken the four horsemen, we be- 
gan to advance together, but not without encountering 
serious impediments and difficulties ;■ until at the dis- 
tance of half a league it pleased God that we should enter 
upon the open ground, and there I took breath while 
waiting for the rest of the people to come up. When 
they had arrived, I bade them give thanks to our Lordy 
who had brought us in safety to that spot from whence 
we could see all the provinces of Mexico and Temixtitan, 
both on the lakes and around them. But although we 
regarded them with great satisfaction, this feeling was 
not unmixed with sadness when we recalled the losses 
we had experienced there, and we all resolved never to' 
quit the country again without victory, even should it 
cost us our lives. With this determination we proceeded 
forward with as much alacrity as if we had been going 
on a party of pleasure. As soon as the enemy perceived 
us, they began on a sudden to kindle signal fires, many 
and large, throughout the country ; and I begged and 
urged upon the Spaniards to do as they had ever done, 
and as was expected from them, by observing the utmost 

27 



266 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

degree of order and regularity on the march. Already 
the Indians were beginning to utter loud cries from their 
dwellings and small villages, calling upon the whole 
country to pour forth its population, and attack us on the 
bridges and in the difficult passes on our route. But we 
advanced so rapidly that before they had time to rally 
their forces, we had already descended to the plain. 
They, however, planted several squadrons of Indians in 
the road on our front, and I gave orders for fifteen of the 
horsemen to attack them, who rushed upon them with 
their lances and destroyed many without any loss on our 
part. We continued our route to the city of Tesaico, 
which is one of the largest and most beautiful cities in all 
this country. As the foot soldiers were somewhat weary, 
and it was now evening, we lodged at a small place 
called Coatepeque, which is subject to that city, from 
which it is three leagues distant ; we found it deserted 
by the inhabitants. That night we thought how very 
large and populous were this city and province, (the 
latter called Aculuacan,) which, it may be safely be- 
lieved, contained at one time more than a hundred and 
fifty thousand men,* and from whom we were exposed 
to an attack. With but ten horsemen I commenced the 
watch, and went its rounds the first quarter, and took 
care that all the people should be well prepared against 
the enemy. 

The next day, (Monday, the last day of December,) 
we resumed our march in the usual order ; and at a 
quarter of a league from Coatepeque, being all in great 
perplexity, reasoning with ourselves whether the Tesai- 



* Tezcuco at the present day is a populous city, and there are numerous vil- 
lages ia Its suburbs, together with handsome farm-houses, or haciendas. — L. 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 207 

cans would be hostile or pacific towards us, and con- 
cluding the former to be almost certain, there met us on 
the road four principal Indians, bearing a standard of 
gold in the form of a mace, weighing four marcs of gold, 
by which they gave us to understand that they proposed 
peace, which God knows how much we desired, and 
how much we stood in need of, being so few in number, 
and so far removed from all succor, in the midst of the 
forces of the enemy. As soon as I discovered these 
four Indians, one of whom I knew very well, I caused 
the army to halt, while I advanced towards them. After 
saluting us, they said to me that they had come on be- 
half of the lord of that city and province, whose name 
was Guanacacin, and desired in his name that I would 
do no injury, nor consent that any should be done to his 
country, since they had not been guilty of wrong towards 
us, but that the people of Temixtitan were the offenders ; 
that they wished to be vassals of your Majesty, and our 
allies, desiring always to preserve our friendship ; and 
that we might proceed to their city and learn by their 
acts what their sentiments were towards us. I answered 
them by interpreters, that I was glad to have peace and 
friendship with them ; but that although they excused 
themselves from the guilt of the war made upon us in 
the city of Temixtitan, yet they knew well that in certain 
villages subject to them, five or six leagues from the 
city of Tesaico,* they had destroyed at another time five 
of our horsemen and forty-five foot, together with more 
than three hundred Indians of Tascaltecal, who had 
arrived there laden with goods ; and that a large quantity 

* Tezcuco was a separate kingdom from that of Mexico before the arrival of 
Cortes. — L. Its name is uniformly written by Cortes Tesaico. 



20S LETTERS OF CORTES. 

of silver, gold, cotton cloth, and other things belonging 
to us, had been seized by them on that occasion ; that as 
they could offer no excuse for this offence, the least 
penalty they could suffer would be the restoration to us 
of what they had taken ; and that on these terms, 
although they were all deserving of death for having 
destroyed the lives of so many Christians, I would make 
peace with them, as they desired it ; but that otherwise 
I should proceed against them with the utmost rigor. 
They replied that the Mexican lord and nobles had 
carried away what had been taken from our people, but 
that they would search for all that might have been left 
behind, and give it to me. And they inquired whether 
I would go to the city that day, or lodge in one of two 
villages in its suburbs, called Coatinchan and Guasuta,* 
which are a league and a half distant from the city, but 
connected with it by a continued line of population. 
They desired the latter, as appeared from what followed. 
I told them that I would not stop till I had reached the 
city of Tesaico ; when they remarked that we should be 
in good time, and they would precede us in order to get 
ready suitable lodgings for the Spaniards and myself. 
They accordingly went away, and when we had arrived 
at the two villages, some of their principal men came 
out to receive us, and supplied us with food. At noon 
we reached the body of the city, where we were to lodge 
in a lar2;e edifice that had been the residence of the father 
of Guanacacin, the lord of the city. Before taking pos- 

* Coathlinchan and Huejotla ; and it appears as one settlement from Chiautla 
and Tezcuco to Coatepec, by the continued line of villages and haciendas. In 
Tezcuco are still seen near the church fragments of the king's palace, and a 
large reservoir. In Huejotla are seen still larger ruins, including a wall of ad- 
mirable workmanship. — L. — See Bullock's Travels in Mexico, Chap. 28th. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 209 

session of this palace, assembling all our people, I caused 
it to be proclaimed, that " no one, under pain of death, 
should go out of the quarters assigned to us without ex- 
press permission from me." The building \va& so large 
that it would have accommodated us in the most con- 
venient manner, had the number of Spaniards been twice 
as great. I took this precaution in order that the in- 
habitants of the city might feel secure, and remain in 
their abodes ; for it seemed to me that we did not see a 
tenth part of the people usually found in the city, nor 
any women or children — which was a sure mark of a 
state of alarm and panic. 

The day we entered that city, which was New-Year's 
eve, after having been employed in establishing ourselves 
in our quarters, notwithstanding we were somewhat sur- 
prised to see so few people, and those we did see so 
dull and stupid, we thought it was from fear that they 
did not show themselves about the streets of the city ; 
and with this reflection we were somewhat relieved from 
our apprehensions. Scarcely had the evening arrived, 
however, when certain Spaniards ascended several lofty 
terraces, from whence they could survey the whole city, 
and observed that all the inhabitants were leaving it, 
some taking with them their effects to embark in their 
canoes (which they call alcales) on the lake, and others 
climbing the mountains. I instantly ordered their de- 
parture to be stopped, but as it was already evening, 
and would soon be dark, and they made great haste in 
their movements, nothing was effected. The lord of the 
city, whom I desired to have in my hands as a pledge 
of our safety, fled with many of his nobles to t^ city of 
Temixtitan, which is six leagues distant by the way of 
the lake, and they took with them whatever they could 



210 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

carry of their property. For this purpose, to enable 
them to execute their design in safety, the messengers men- 
tioned above had been sent to me to arrest my progress, 
and prevent my doing injury to them on entering the 
city ; and thus, for that night, they abandoned both us 
and their city. 

After I had been in this manner three days in the city, 
without having encountered any Indians, (as duj-ing that 
time they neither ventured to trust themselves in our 
power, nor did we care to go far in quest of them ; 
nevertheless my intention being to receive them always 
when they came to desire peace, and at all times to seek 
peace with them,) there came to confer with me the lords 
of Coatinchan, Guaxuta, and Autengo,* (which are three 
very large places, and are, as I have already said, in- 
corporated with and joined to this city,) who begged me 
with tears in their eyes to pardon them for having been 
absent from their territory ; declaring at the same time 
that they had not fought against me, at least of their own 
accord, and promising henceforth to do every thing I 
should command them in the name of your Majesty. I 
answered them by interpreters, that they had always 
been well treated by me, and that in deserting their 
country, and in other respects, they were in fault ; that 
since they promised to be our friends, they must return 
to their houses, and bring back their women and chil- 
dren, when I would treat them according to their acts. 
They then went away, as it appeared to us, not very 
well satisfied. 

When the Lord of Mexico and Temixtitan, and all the 
other lords of Culua, (the latter name being applied to 

* Coathlinchan, Huejotla, and Atengo ; the latter also called Tenango, Te- 
popula. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 211 

the lands and provinces in these parts subject to Te- 
mixtitan,) learned that the caciques of these places had 
come to offer themselves as vassals of your Majesty, they 
sent messengers to tell them that they had done wrong ; 
and that if they had acted from fear, they should reflect 
that the people of Culua were sufficiently numerous 
and powerful to destroy the lives of all the Spaniards 
and Tlascallans in a very short space of time ; but if 
they had acted from a desire to retain their lands, they 
might leave them and go to Temixtitan, where they 
would receive other and better possessions and places of 
residence. The caciques of Coatinchan and Guaxuta 
took these messengers and bound them, and. delivered 
them to me ; when they immediately acknowledged that 
they had been sent by the lords of Temixtitan ; but that 
it had been for the purpose of requesting these caciques 
to go to that city to act as mediators in making peace 
between them and me, as they were my friends. But 
they of Coatinchan and Guaxuta denied that it was so, 
declaring that the people of Mexico and Temixtitan 
sought only war ; and although I believed this was the 
casCi and it proved to be the truth, nevertheless as I de- 
sired to bring back the inhabitants of the great city into 
friendship with us, since on this depended peace or 
war with the other provinces that had revolted, I caused 
the messengers to be set at liberty, saying to them, that 
they need have no fears, it being my intention to allow 
them to return to Temixtitan j and I begged them to in- 
form its lords that I did not seek war with them, althoush 
I had great reason for so doing, but wished we might be- 
come friends again ; and to render my intentions the 
more certain, and induce them to return to your Majesty's 
service, I informed them I was well aware that all those 



212 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

who took the lead in the passed war against us were 
now dead ; that the past was past, and they should 
not seek to give me fresh provocation to lay waste their 
lands and cities, as it would distress me much. With 
these words I dismissed them, and they departed, pro- 
mising to bring me an answer. The caciques of Coatin- 
chan, Guaxuta, and myself, were by this affair rendered 
greater friends, and bound together in a closer confede- 
racy. I forgave them their past errors, and thus they 
left us well satisfied. 

After having been seven or eight days in this city of 
Tesaico without being engaged in hostilities, or encoun^ 
tering any one, fortifying our quarters, and regulating 
other matters necessary for our defence, as well as for 
offensive operations against the enemy ; and finding that 
they did not come to attack me, I sallied forth from the 
city with two hundred Spaniards, amongst whom were 
eighteen horse, thirty bowmen, and ten musketeers, to- 
gether with three or four thousand Indians, our allies. 
I proceeded along the coast of the lake to a city called 
Iztapalapa, which is by water two leagues from the great 
city of Temixtitan, and six from Tesaico ; it contains 
about ten thousand families, and half or two thirds of it 
are situated on the water. Its lord, who was a brother 
of Muteczuma, and whom the Indians after the death of 
the latter had made his successor, was the most active in 
making war upon us, and driving us out of the city. On 
this account, as well as because I had known its inhabi- 
tants were ill disposed towards us, 1 determined to pro- 
ceed directly towards the city of Iztapalapa. As soon as 
I was discovered by them, when two leagues distant, and 
before! had arrived, there appeared immediately in the 
field some hostile Indians, and others in their canoes on 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 213 

the lalce ; and thus we proceeded two leagues, fighting 
all the way, both with those on land and those on the 
water, until we reached that city. When we had arrived 
within about two thirds of a league, they opened a dike, 
situated between the fresh and salt water lakes, as may 
be seen on the map of the city of Temixtitan that I sent 
to your Majesty. When the causeway or dike was 
opened, the water of the salt lake began to flow with 
great impetuosity towards the fresh lake, although the 
lakes are more than half a league distant from one 
another ; and not looking for any deception, in our eager- 
ness for victory, we passed along very well, and followed 
the track of the enemy, until we entered the city at the 
same time with them. As the people were apprised of 
our coming, all the houses on the main land were desert- 
ed, and the people with their effects took refuge in the 
houses on the lake, where were assembled all those who 
had fled before us, who fought with great desperation. 
But it pleased our Lord to give such strength to his 
people that we pursued them into the water, sometimes 
where it was breast deep, in other places swimming ; 
and we took many of their houses situated on the water. 
More than six thousand of the people, men, women, and 
children, perished ; for the Indians, our allies, seeing we 
were victorious, would listen to nothing, but only cut to 
the right and left. 

As night approached, I collected the people and set 
fire to some of the houses ; and while these were burn- 
ing, it seemed that our Lord inspired me, by bringing to 
my recollection the causeway or mole, which we had 
seen broken on our route, and the great danger in which 
it placed us ; and hastening with my collected force, I 
departed out of the city, it being already quite dark. 

28 



214 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

When we reached the water, at almost nine in the even- 
ing, it was so deep, and the current so strong, that we 
passed it half running and half flying ; some of our In- 
dian allies were drowned, and all the spoil was lost that 
had been taken in the city. And I assure your Ma- 
jesty, that if we had not passed the water that night, or 
had remained in the city three hours longer, none of 
us would have escaped,* but we should have been sur- 
rounded by water without being able to find a passage 
out in any direction. When it was day-light we saw 
that the water of one lake was on a level with that of 
the other, and there was no current ; and all the salt 
lake was covered with canoes, filled with warriors, 
thinking to take us at this place. The same day I re- 
turned to Tesaico, fighting occasionally by the way with 
those who were on the lake, although we could do them 
little harm, as they escaped readily in their canoes ; and 
arriving at the city of Tesaico, I found the people I had 
left there perfectly secure, without having had a single 
hostile encounter ; and our return and victory gave them 
much pleasure. The next day after our return a Spa- 
niard died who had come back wounded ; and he was 
the first one killed in the field by the Indians to the pre- 
sent time. 

The next day certain messengers came to this city 
from the city of Otumba,t and four other cities adjacent 
to it, which are four, five, and six leagues distant from 

* Part of the town of Iztapalapa was built on land, and part on the water ; 
and the Indians broke the dikes that formed a communication between the two 
lakes. — L. 

t It bears the same name at the present day ; and in its neighborhood are San 
Juan Teotihuacan, Ajapusco, Cuatlanzingo, (which was very large,) Osto- 
ticpac, Tecpayucan, Jaltepec, Nopaltepec, and the hacienda of Ometusco. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 215 

Tesaico. They asked me to pardon their offence, if 
they had committed any, in regard to the late war that 
had been waged against me ; for it was at Otumba that 
the whole power of Mexico and Temixtitan had been 
concentrated, with the hope of finally crushing us, at the 
time we had been driven out of the great city. These 
Otumbans saw plainly that they could not deny their 
guilt, but they excused themselves by saying that they 
had obeyed the commands of their superiors ; and in 
order to induce me to favor them, they declared that 
the lords of Temixtitan had sent messengers to them, 
biddino- them to adhere to their cause, and form no 
friendship with us, otherwise they would come and de- 
stroy them ; but that they preferred to be the vassals of 
your Majesty, and to obey my commands. I answered, 
that they were well aware of their past offences, and in 
order that I should pardon them, and believe what they 
said, they must first bring to me as prisoners the mes- 
sengers of whom they had spoken, and all the natives of 
Mexico and Temixtitan that were in their country ; and 
that on no other conditions would I pardon them ; that 
they should return to their abodes and occupy them, and 
show by their actions that they were good subjects of 
your Majesty. Though we exchanged a few more 
words, they could not induce me to change my determi- 
nation ; and so they returned to their country, assuring 
me that they would always do what I desired ; and from 
that time they have ever proved to be loyal and obe- 
dient in the service of your Majesty. 

In my former despatch, most fortunate and excellent 
Prince, I informed your Majesty that at the time they 
routed and drove us from the city of Temixtitan, I took 
with me a son and two daughters of Muteczuma, to- 



216 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

gether with the lord of Tesaico,* named Cacamacin, and 
his two brothers, and many other caciques, all of whom 
perished at the hands of the enemy, (though of the same 
nation, and some even the lords of those who destroyed 
them,) with the exception of the two brothers of Caca- 
macin, who by great good fortune were enabled to make 
their escape. One of these brothers, named Ipacsuchil, 
otherwise called Cucascacin, (who had been before made 
lord of the city of Tesaico and the province of Aculua- 
can, by me, in the name of your Majesty, and by the ad- 
vice of Muteczuma,) at the time when I reached the 
province of Tascaltecal, being then in the condition of a 
prisoner, got liberated and returned to the city of Te- 
saico, where another brother named Guanacacin, men- 
tioned above, had been created lord. It is said that 
Cacascacin suffered death at the hands of this brother 
in the following maimer : When he arrived at Tesaico, 
the guards seized him, and gave information to Guana- 
cacin, the lord, who communicated it to the lord of Te- 
mixtitan. The latter, as soon as he heard of the arrival 
of Cucascacin, could not believe that he had escaped 
from us, but imagined that he would return to our camp 
when he should have obtained intelligence of importance 
to carry with him ; he therefore sent immediate orders 
to Guanacacin to put Cucascacin, his brother, to death, 
who did not fail to execute the command without delay. 
The other brother, who was the youngest, remained with 
me, and as he was quite a youth, his intercourse with 
us produced a greater impression on his mind ; and he 
became a Christian,! taking the name of Don Fernando. 

* Cacamacin was a relative of Muteczuma, and his tributary, being a son of 
Nezahualpilli, with whom the independence of the province ceased, it falling 
under the power of Muteczuma. — L. 

+ This was the most celebrated conversion next to that of the four lords of 
Tlascala. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 217 

At the time I left the province of Tascaltecal for 
Mexico and Temixtitan, he remained there with seve- 
ral Spaniards ; and I shall hereafter inform your Majesty 
of what afterwards occurred to him. 

The day following my return from Iztapalapa to the 
city of Tesaico^ I determined to despatch Gonzalo de 
Sandoval, alguazil majj^or of your Majesty, in command 
of twenty horsemen and two hundred foot soldiers, to- 
gether with bowmen, musketeers, and men armed with 
sword and buckler, to accomplish two very necessary 
purposes ; first, to escort out of this province certain 
messengers that I proposed to send to the city of Tes- 
caltecal, to ascertain what progress had been made on 
the thirteen brigantines which were building there, and 
to provide things necessary both for the men stationed 
at Vera Cruz, as well as for my own company ; and in 
the second place, to render secure that part of the coun- 
try, so that the Spaniards could come and go without 
danger ; since heretofore we were unable to leave the 
province of Aculuacan without passing through the ene- 
my's country, nor could the Spaniards at Vera Cruz 
and other places come to us without great peril from the 
enemy. I also directed the alguazil mayor, that after 
he had escorted the messengers to a place of safety, he 
should go to a province called Calco, bordering on that 
of Aculuacan, in order to obtain a confirmation of the 
statement that the people of that province were desirous, 
although belonging to the Culuan league, to surrender 
themselves as vassals of your Majesty, and that they 
were prevented from doing so by reason of a garrison of 
Culuans that existed amongst them. 

The captain departed, and with him went all the In* 
dians of Tascaltecal who had transported our baggage, 



218 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and others who had come to our aid, and had taken some 
of the spoils of war. The latter proceeded a consider- 
able distance in front, Sandoval believing that when the 
enemy discovered the Spaniards to be in the rear they 
would not dare to make an attack. But as soon as the 
people in the towns on the lake and along the coast who 
were unfriendly to us espied the Tascaltecans, they at- 
tacked them in their rear, stripped them of their spoil, 
and even killed some of them. As soon as the captain 
came up with the cavalry and the foot, he rushed upon 
the enemy, assailing them with spears, and destroyed 
many of their number ; those who escaped took refuge 
on the lake and in the villages on its borders. The In- 
dians of Tascaltecal pursued their way to their own 
country with what they had saved, together with the 
messengers I had sent ; and when all had reached a 
place of safety, Gonzalo de Sandoval took the road to the 
province of Calco, which was not far distant. The next 
morning many of the enemy assembled to go forth and 
attack him ; and when some of them were in one part of 
the field, and others in others, our people fell upon them 
briskly, and two squadrons with the cavalry com- 
pletely routed them, so that in a short time they aban- 
doned the field to our men, who pursued with fire and 
sword.* 

After this the road being cleared, the inhabitants of 
Calco came forth to receive the Spaniards ; and on both 
sides congratulations were freely exchanged. The prin- 
cipal citizens said they wished to come and see me, and 
have a conference with me ; so they departed and came 
to lodge at Tesaico. When they had arrived, there 

*This battle was fought on the plam over which the road passes from Tetz- 
cuco to Chalco. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 219 

visited me several of the principal men with two sons 
of the cacique of Calco, and gave me nearly three hun- 
dred pesos of gold in pieces. The latter informed me of 
the death of their father, and that when he died he told 
them that what disturbed him most was not to be able to 
see me before his death, and that he had been expecting 
many days to see me ; that he had charged them to come 
to me as soon as I arrived in the province, and take me 
for their father ; and that when they heard of my arrival 
at the city of Tesaico, they immediately desired to come 
and see me, but that they dared not from fear of the 
Culuans ; nor should they have ventured to come at all, 
had not the captain I had sent visited their country ; and 
they requested me to give them a guard of Spaniards to 
enable them to return in safety. They also stated what 
I knew to be true, that neither in war nor in peace had 
they been unfriendly to me ; and I also knew that at the 
time when the Culuans attacked the fortress and palace 
at Temixtitan and the Spaniards left there by me 
when I went to look after Narvaez at Cempoal, there 
were two Spaniards in the country in charge of a quan- 
tity of maize, which I had ordered them to collect, whom 
they took to the province of Guajocingo, because they 
knew that the people there . were my friends ; in order 
by this means to save them from the Culuans, who killed 
all the Spaniards they found out of the palace at Temix- 
titan. These things and much else they said to me, with 
tears in their eyes ; I thanked them for their friendly 
disposition and acts of kindness, promising to do all they 
desired, and that they should be well treated. And from 
that time to the present they have constantly shown a 
friendly spirit, and have proved very obedient in respect 



220 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

to every thing commanded them on the part of your 
Majesty. 

The sons of the cacique of Chalco,* and those who 
accompanied them, being one day at my quarters, re- 
quested that as they wished to return to their country, I 
would give them an escort to enable them to go in safety. 
Accordingly Gonzalo de Sandoval with a portion of the 
cavalry and foot soldiers accompanied them; and I 
directed him that after he had seen them safe in their 
country, he should go to the province of Tascaltecal, and 
bring back with him certain Spaniards who were there, 
and likewise Don Hernando, the brother of Cacamacin, 
of whom I have spoken above. After four or five days 
the alguazil mayor returned with the Spaniards, and 
brought with him the said Don Fernando. A few days 
after I learned that on account of his being a brother of 
the caciques of this city, the office of cacique appertained 
to him, although he had other brothers. For this reason, 
as well as because the province was without a cacique, 
Guanacucin, brother of Don Fernando, its lord, having 
left it and gone to the 'city of Temixtitan ; and also in 
consequence of his being a great friend to Christians, I 
caused Don Fernando to be received as the lord in your 
Majesty's name. The inhabitants of the city, although 
at that time there were but few left in it, acknowledged 
him ; and from thenceforth many of those who were ab- 
sent, and had fled from the city, began to return, and 
obey and serve Don Fernando ; and the city itself im- 
proved in character as well as increased greatly in 
population. 

* Chalco, although it had a cacique of its own, was tributary to Mexico. — L. 
The orthography of this name is here changed in the original from Calco to 
Chalco, as now written. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 221 

About two days after this there came to me the lords 
of Coatinchan and Guaxuta, and gave me information 
that there was no doubt all the power of Culua would be 
brought against me and the Spaniards, the whole country 
being full of our enemies; and that I must consider 
whether they should bring their women and children 
where I was, or take them to the mountains, as they 
were filled with consternation. I encouraged them, and 
bade them dismiss their fears, and remain in their houses 
without making any change ; adding, that nothing would 
please me more than to see the Culuans in the field. I 
charged them to be vigilant, placing their scouts and 
sentinels in every quarter, and that as soon as they saw 
or heard the movements of the enemy, they should im- 
mediately inform me. So they went away with the de- 
termination to do as I had directed. 

The same night I got our whole force in readiness, and 
set many sentries and scouts in all directions where it 
seemed necessary ; and during the whole night we had 
no sleep, and thought of nothing else but the enemy, 
both that night and the following day, in consequence of 
what we had been told by the lords of Guaxuta and 
Guatinchan. The next day I learned that some of the 
hostile Indians had been prowling along the coast of the 
lake for the sake of plunder, and with the expectation of 
cutting off the Indians of Tascaltecal, who were coming 
and going in the service of the camp ; and I likewise as- 
certained that they had confederated with two people 
subject to Tesaico, and dwelling near the lake, to do us all 
the mischief in their power. I caused redoubts, ditches, 
and other works to be constructed in that quarter as a 
means of defence ; and the day after I took twelve horse, 

two hundred foot, and two small field pieces, and went 

29 



222 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

to the place where the enemy had been, about a league 
and a half from the city. On my way I fell in with 
certain spies of the enemy, and others engaged in plun- 
der, whom we routed and pursued, killing several of 
them. The survivors threw themselves into the water. 
When we had burned some of their villages, we returned 
to our quarters much gratified with our success. The 
next day three of the chief men of the towns came to ask 
pardon for the past, and begged I would destroy no more 
of their towns, promising no longer to admit the people 
of Temixtitan into their towns. As they were not per- 
sons of much consideration, and were vassals of Don 
Fernando, I pardoned them in your Majesty's name. 
The day following several of these people came to me 
wounded and otherwise injured, and said that the Mexi- 
cans and Temixtitans had returned to their place, and 
not meeting with the reception to which they had been 
accustomed, had ill-treated them and taken some of their 
number prisoners ; and that if they had not defended 
themselves, they would all have been made prisoners. 
They requested that I would be ready in case the Te- 
mixtitans returned, to come to their relief; and then 
went away to their homes. 

The people that I had left in the province of Tascal- 
tecal, engaged in building the brigantines, received in- 
telligence that a ship had arrived at the port of Vera 
Cruz, in which besides the seamen there were thirty or 
forty Spaniards, eight horses, several archers and mus- 
keteers, and a quantity of powder ; and as they were 
not informed as to the progress of the war, nor whether 
thc}^ could join us with safety, they were in much per- 
plexity ; and the Spaniards who had remained at Vera 
Cruz did not dare to come, although they wished to bring 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 223 

me so oood news. When a servant of mine who had 
been left at that place perceived that some of the men 
were desirous of attempting to reach me, he issued an 
order, forbidding, under a heavy penalty, any one leaving 
the place until directions were received from me. But 
a young man in my service, being convinced that nothing 
in the world would give me greater joy than to hear of 
the arrival of the ship and the succor it had brought, set 
out in the night and came to Tesaico, although the coun- 
try was unsafe, and we were much surprised to see him 
come in alive. The news gave us much pleasure, for 
we were in extreme need of relief. 

The same day, most Catholic Sire, there arrived at 
Tesaico certain true men, messengers from the authori- 
ties at Chalco, who informed me that in consequence of 
their having offered themselves as vassals to your Ma- 
jesty, all the forces of Mexico and Temixtitan had in- 
vaded their country to destroy them ; and that on this 
account they had rallied together and got in readiness 
all the neighboring people, and they desired that I would 
come to their relief and aid them in their extremity, for 
they saw no other way to save themselves. I assure 
your Majesty, as I have already done in my former rela- 
tion, that next to our toils and sufferings, the greatest 
source of sorrow I experienced was in not having the 
ability to assist and relieve our Indian friends, who by 
becoming vassals of your Majesty had exposed them- 
selves to be molested and annoyed by the people of 
Culua. Nevertheless, both myself and those with me 
did every thing in our power to accomplish this purpose, 
for it seemed to us that we could in no way serve your 
imperial Majesty more .effectually than by favoring and 
aiding your vassals. But at the juncture when applica- 



224 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

tion was made to me by the people of Chalco, I was 
unable to do for them what I desired ; I however told 
them, that since I now wished to send for the brigantines, 
and with that view had got ready all the people of the 
province of Tascaltecal, from whence they would be 
brought in detached pieces, and should find it necessary 
to despatch thither on the same business both horse and 
foot — I would ask in my own name the inhabitants of 
Guajocingo, Churultecal, and Guacachula, who were 
vassals of your Majesty and friends of ours, to go to 
their assistance, as they lived in the same neighborhood ; 
who would send them men for their defence, and render 
them secure until I could come to their relief — this being 
the only succor I could afford them. Although they did 
not take their leave as well satisfied as if I had given 
them a Spanish force, they thanked me, and asked that 
I would give them a letter as a voucher, that they might 
solicit aid with greater confidence ; since between the 
people of Chalco and two of those provinces, being of 
opposite parties, differences had always existed. 

While I was engaged in regulating these matters, there 
happened to arrive certain messengers from the above- 
mentioned provinces of Guajocingo and Guacachula, who 
in the presence of those of Chalco said, that the lords of 
those provinces had neither seen nor heard any thing of 
me since my departure from Tascaltecal, although they 
had posted their scouts or sentries upon the mountains 
and hills bounding their country and overlooking Mexico 
and Temixtitan, in order that when they saw many 
smokes, the signal of war, they might come to my assis- 
tance with their vassals and people ; and since within a 
short time they had seen more smokes than usual, they 
had come to know how it was, thatin case any necessity 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 225 

existed, they might at once get ready their men of war. 
I was much gratified, I told them, with their alacrity, and 
assured them that, thanks to our blessed Lord, the Spa- 
niards and myself were in good condition, constantly 
victorious against the enemy ; and that besides being 
pleased with their good disposition and presence, it 
afforded me still greater satisfaction to form a union of 
friendship between them and the people of Chalco, whose 
deputies were now present ; and I begged them, since 
they were both vassals of your Majesty, to become good 
friends and aid and assist one another against the Culuans, 
who were wicked and perverse ; especially at this time, 
when the people of Chalco had need of assistance, as 
the Culuans were about to march against them. Thus 
they became friends and confederates ; and after they 
had remained two days with me they departed cheerful 
and contented, and rendered mutual service to one an- 
other. 

Three days after, when we knew that thirteen brig- 
antines had been completed, and the people collected to 
transport them, I sent Gonzalo de Sandovg-l, alguazil 
mayor, with j&fteen horse and two hundred foot, to escort 
them ; to whom I gave directions to destroy and raze to 
the ground a large town subject to this city of Tesaico, 
that lies contiguous to the boundary of the province of 
Tascaltecal, whose inhabitants had killed five of our 
horsemen and forty-five foot while on the route from 
Vera Cruz to the city of Temixtitan, at the time I was 
besieged in it, unable to believe in the possibility of so 
great an act of treason. When we entered Tesaico on 
our return, we found in the oratories or temples of the 
city the skins of the five horses sewed up and contain- 
ing the horse-shoes, and the feet and hands of the men ; 



226 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the skins being as well tanned as could be done in any 
part of the world, which together with much cotton cloth 
and the effects of the Spaniards were thus offered to their 
idols. And we found the blood of our companions and 
brothers spilled and sacrificed in all the towns and tem- 
ples ; the occasion of much grief, as it renewed the 
memory of all our past suffering. The traitors of that 
and the adjoining towns, at the time the Christians 
passed through them, gave them a good reception, in 
order to lull them into security, for the purpose of per- 
petrating the greatest piece of cruelty that was ever 
practised ; for whilst our men were descending a de- 
clivity at a slow pace, all being on foot, dragging their 
horses by their bridles, and impeded at every step, the 
enemy, concealed in ambush on both sides of the diffi- 
cult pass, fell upon the midst of them, killing some, and 
taking others alive to carry them to be sacrificed at Te- 
saico, and pluck out their hearts before their idols. That 
this was the fate of some of them, appears from the fact 
that when the alguazil mayor abovementioned passed 
that way, certain Spaniards that accompanied him dis- 
covered in a house of a village between Tesaico and 
where the Christians were killed and made prisoners, 
the following words written with coal on a white wall : 
" Here the unfortunate Juan Yuste was a prisoner."* 
This person was a cavalier, one of the five horsemen of 
the party ; and the sight of these words, without doubt, 
filled the hearts of all v/ho observed them with profound 
grief. The alguazil mayor having arrived at this town, 
the inhabitants, conscious of their great guilt, began to 
seek refuge in flight, and the Spanish horse and foot 

* It was the town of Zultepec in which this discovery was made. Juan de 
Yuste was the man who advised Narvaez to seize Juan Velazquez. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 227 

with our Indian friends pursued them, kilHng many, 
and taking a large number of women and children pri- 
soners, who were condemned to slavery ; but moved by 
compassion, he endeavored as much as possible to spare 
their lives ; and before his departure from the place, he 
caused the survivors to be collected together, and put 
them in possession of the town, whicb at this time is very 
populous, and its inhabitants regretful of the past. 

The alguazil mayor passed on five or six leagues to a 
village of Tascaltecal, the nearest to the border of Culua, 
where he found the Spaniards and people prepared to 
transport the brigantines. The day after his arrival, 
they set out from thence with the planks and cross-timbers, 
which more than eight thousand men were engaged in 
transporting ; a sight wonderful to behold, and as it ap- 
pears to me, to hear of, the transportation of thirteen 
vessels eighteen leagues by land ; and I assure your Ma- 
jesty that from the advance guard to the rear was a dis- 
tance of full two leagues. When they began to move, 
eight horsemen and one hundred Spanish foot went be- 
fore ; and in the van, and along the flanks, were more 
than ten thousand men of war, commanded by captains, 
at the head of whom were Yutecad (Aientecatl) and 
Teutipil, two of the principal chiefs of Tascaltecal ; in 
the rear guard came another hundred and more Spa- 
niards, with eight horsemen, and ten thousand men of 
war, well disposed, commanded by Chichimecatecle, 
one of the principal men of that province, together with 
other captains who accompanied him. At the time they 
first set out, Chichimecatl commanded the van with the 
plank, and the two other captains brought up the rear with 
the cross-timbers ; but when entering the territory of 
Culua, the masters of the brigantines directed the cross 
timbers to be carried in front, and the plank in the rear* 



228 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

as the latter would occasion most embarrassment in case 
of their meeting with obstructions, which was more likely 
to occur in front than rear. But Chichimecatl, who 
had charge of the planks, and had always led the van 
with bis warriors, took offence at this arrangement, and 
it was a hard matter to induce him to consent to be left 
in the rear guard, because he courted whatever danger 
might occur in the transportation ; and when he finally 
yielded to the arrangement, he was not willing that any 
Spaniards should remain in the rear guard, as he was a 
man of great energy and sought to gain honor to him- 
self. The same captains had under their charge two 
thousand Indians loaded with provisions. 

It was in this order, and according to this arrangement 
that they took up the line of march, in which they con- 
sumed three days, and on the fourth entered this city 
[Tezcuco] with great rejoicing and noise of kettle-drums, 
when I went out to receive them. As I have mentioned 
above, the people stretched out to so great a distance, 
that from the time those in front began to enter until the 
last had come up, more than six hours had passed with- 
out breaking the line of people. After they had arrived, 
and I had expressed my gratification to the caciques for 
their good services, I provided quarters for them together 
with the best supplies that could be procured. They 
assured me that they had come with a strong desire to 
engage with the Culuans, and that I should see that 
whatever might be my commands, they ^^nd their people 
had come with the desire and determination to be re- 
venged, or die with us. I thanked them, and begged 
they would take some repose, promising that I would 
soon give them their hands full.* 

* Yo lestli las gracias, y dije que reposasen, y que presto les daria las manos 
llcnas. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 229 



CHAPTER II. 

After all the warriors of Tascaltecal had reposed in 
Tesaico three or four days, (when it appeared manifest 
that compared with others of the country they were a 
superior people,) I ordered to be in readiness twenty-five 
horse, three hundred foot, and fifty archers and muske- 
teers, with six small field-pieces, and without saying 
aught to any one as to our destination, I left the city at 
nine o'clock in the morning ; and with me went the cap- 
tains abovementioned, and more than thirty thousand 
men, arranged in squadrons according to their manner. 
At four leagues from this city, when it was hardly dark, 
we encountered a squadron of the enemy's warriors ; 
our cavalry at once broke through them, and we put 
them to route. The Tlascallans, as they are swift of 
foot, followed us, and many of the enemy were slain ; 
that night we slept on the field, keeping a strict watch. 
The next morning we resumed our march, and I in- 
formed no one whither it was my intention to go, because 
I feared lest some of the Tesaicans who were with us 
should give information of my plans to those of Mexico 
and Temixtitan, as I could not feel entirely secure of 
their fidelity. We arrived at a village called Jultoca, 
situated in the midst of a lake, and around it we found 
many large ditches full of water ; it was so strongly for- 
tified that our cavalry could not effect an entrance, and 
the enemy uttered many loud cries, discharging upon us 
great numbers of darts and arrows ; but the infantry 

30 



230 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

succeeded in entering the place, though with great diffi- 
culty, and drove out the inhabitants and consumed a 
great part of the town with fire. The same night we 
went to sleep at a league's distance from the village ; 
and at day-break, resuming our route, we fell in with 
the enemy, who at a distance began to utter loud cries, 
or shouts, as they are wont to do in war, which are cer- 
tainly terrible to hear. We pursued them, and in our 
course reached a large and beautiful city called Guati- 
clan, which we found deserted by its inhabitants, where 
we lodged that night. 

The next day we continued to advance, and arrived 
at another city called Tenainca, where we met with no 
resistance ; and without stopping we passed on to ano- 
ther called Acapuzalco ; all of them are on the lake. 
We did not remain in the latter, because I desired very 
much to reach another city which is near it, called Ta- 
cuba, in the vicinity of Temixtitan. When we had ap- 
proached within a short distance of that city, we found 
it surrounded by ditches or canals, and the enemy close 
at hand ; as soon as we saw them we and our allies at- 
tacked them vigorously, and entered the place, killing 
some and driving out others. As it was now almost 
evening, we did nothing more that night than to take 
lodgings in a house that was large enough to contain us 
all very conveniently.* At day-break our Indian friends 
began to pillage and burn the city, except the building 
in which we had lodged ; and they were so diligent that 

*The town of Tacuba now belongs to the cacique Don Josef Muteczuma, a 
descendant of the emperors; and the houses which are above referred to, were 
those of the emperor. This place in the Mexican is called Tlacupa, (or Tlaco- 
pan,) and was the capital of the kingdom of the Tecpanecans, and subsequently 
was subjected by Ahuir. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 231 

nearly a quarter of it was consumed. They did this 
because when we were before driven out of Temixtitan, 
in passing through this place its inhabitants joined with 
those of Temixtitan in making cruel war upon us, and 
destroyed the lives of many Spaniards. 

During the six days that we were in the city of Ta- 
cuba, there was not one in which we did not have many 
rencounters and skirmishes with the enemy. The 
Tlascallan captains and their men sent many challenges 
to the Mexicans, and they fought one another with great 
valor, exchanging words together, uttering threats and 
injurious expressions that were curious to hear ; and du- 
ring this time many of the enemy were constantly fall- 
ing, without any loss on our side, although we several 
times passed into the streets and on the bridges of the 
city, where being strongly fortified they made a stout 
resistance. They often pretended to invite us to enter 
the city [of Mexico], saying, " Go in, go in, and enjoy 
yourselves ;" and at another time they said to us, " Do 
you think there is now a second Muteczuma to do every 
thing you wish .^" Whilst these speeches were passing, 
I came to a bridge which they had abandoned, and see- 
ing them on the. other side, I beckoned to our people to 
be silent ; and the enemy, perceiving that I wished to 
speak to them, likewise commanded their people to be 
quiet. I then asked them, " Why they were so foolish 
as to seek their own ruin ?" and " that if there was 
amongst them any principal chief from the city, he should 
make his appearance, as I wished to speak to him." 
They answered, "that the whole multitude of warriors 
that I saw there were chiefs, and that I might therefore 
say what I pleased." When they found I made no re- 



232 I,ETTERS OF CORTES. 

ply, they began to load me with reproaches ; at the same 
time some one of our men exclaimed, "Let them die of 
hunger, and let us not suffer them to leave the city in 
quest of food." They retorted, " that they were in no 
want, and that when they were they would eat us and 
the Tiascallans." One of them took some cakes of 
maize and reached it towards us, saying, " Take these 
and eat them, for we have an abundance besides ;" and 
then began to utter loud cries, and to attack us. 

As my visit to this city of Tacuba had been chiefly 
for the purpose of holding a parley with the Mexicans, 
and to ascertain their disposition ; and as my presence 
there had advanced nothing, I determined at the end of 
six days to return to Tesaico, in order to hasten the put- 
ting together and completion of the brigantines on the 
land, and to launch them into the water. The day we 
set out on our return, we came to sleep at the city of 
Goatitan, of which mention is made above, and the ene- 
my continually pursued us ; our cavalry charged upon 
them from time to time, and took several prisoners. 
The next day we resumed our march, and when the 
enemy saw us returning, they ascribed it to fear, and 
great numbers of them rallied and pursued us. As soon 
as I perceived this, I ordered the foot to advance and 
continue the march without interruption, followed in 
their rear by five horse, while I should remain behind 
with twenty others, six of whom I directed to lie in am- 
bush in one place, six more in another, and five in ano- 
ther, while I with the remaining three should occupy 
another ; that when the enemy had passed us, supposing 
that we had all gone on together, on hearing the counter- 
sign, " Santiago" they should rush forward and attack 
them in their rear. Accordingly as soon as it was time, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 233 

we sallied forth and fell upon the enemy with our lances, 
pursuing them about two leagues, over ground as level 
as the palm of the hand, in very handsome style. Thus 
many of them perished beneath our hands and those of 
our Indian allies ; so they desisted from pursuing us, 
and we continued our march until we overtook the main 
body. We slept that night at a pretty village called 
Aculman, two leagues from the city of Tesaico ; and the 
next day resuming our route, we entered that city, where 
we were well received by the alguazil mayor, whom I 
had left in command, and by the whole people, who 
were much pleased with our arrival ; since from the day 
we left there they had heard nothing of us, or of what 
had happened to us, which they were very desirous of 
knowing. The day after our return, the Tlascallans 
asked permission of me to go home, and they went away 
well satisfied, taking with them considerable spoil of the 
enemy. 

Two days after our return to this city of Tezcuco, 
there came to me certain Indians, messengers from 
Chalco, who said they had been directed to inform me 
that the Mexicans had marched against them and de- 
signed to destroy them, and they desired me to send 
them succor, as they had asked on former occasions. I 
immediately despatched thither Gonzalo de Sandoval 
with twenty horse and three hundred foot, charging him 
to make great haste, and when arrived there to give all 
the aid in his power to those vassals of your Majesty 
and our allies. Having arrived at Chalco, he found 
many people assembled, both of that province and of 
Guajocingo and Guacachula, who were expecting him ; 
and when he had directed them what to do, they departed 
and took the road to a village called Guastepeque, where 



234 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the Culuans had a garrison, and from whence they had 
done much mjury to the people of Chalco. At a town 
on the route the enemy appeared in considerable force i 
but as our allies were numerous, and had besides the 
advantage of the Spanish horse and foot, they attacked 
them at once, and drove them from the fields, pursuing 
them with great slaughter. They took up their quarters 
for the night in the same town before reaching Guaste- 
peque,'and set out the next day. When they had arrived 
at Guastepeque, the Culuans began to attack the Spa- 
niards, who in a short time put them to flight, and drove 
them with slaughter out of the place. The horsemen 
then dismounted in order to obtain forage for their horses 
and to get rest. While thus off their guard the enemy 
came upon them, approaching even to the place where 
they were reposing, uttering loud and fearful criesj 
throwing stones, clubs and arrows ; the Spaniards seized 
their arms, and with our allies rushed in great haste upon 
the enemy, and again drove them from the place, pur- 
suing them more than a league, and killing many of their 
number. They returned that night much fatigued to 
Guastepeque, where they rested two days. 

At this time the alguazil mayor learned that in a town 
somewhat farther on, called Acapictla, there was a large 
force of the enemy ; he determined to go there and dis- 
cover whether they were inclined to peace. The town 
was strongly fortified,* and situated on an eminence, 
inaccessible to cavalry ; and as soon as the Spaniards 
arrived there, the inhabitants without any delay com- 
menced hostilities by throwing down stones upon the 
men ; and although the alguazil mayor had with him 

* As it is at this day, although it is buried in profound repose, like the adjacent 
country. In the time of Cortes a magnificent parochial church was built here. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 235 

many of our allies, yet seeing the strength of the place, 
he did not dare to attack it, nor to approach the enemy. 
But when the alguazil mayor and the Spaniards saw this, 
they resolved to scale the heights of the town, or to 
perish in the attempt ; and with the watchword " Sefior 
Santiago,''''* they began the ascent. It pleased God to 
give them such strength, that although the resistance was 
great on the part of the enemy, they succeeded in effect- 
ing an entrance into the place, but not without many of 
them being wounded. When our Indian allies followed, 
and the enemy were seen to yield, so great was the 
slaughter both at the hands of our people, and by the 
enemy throwing themselves from the heights of the town, 
that a small stream, which almost surrounds the town, 
was said by all who were there to have been for more 
than an hour so tinged with blood, that they could not 
drink it, although in consequence of the heat there was 
a great want of water for that purpose. Having thus 
brought matters to a conclusion, and at length reduced 
these two places to a state of peace, after punishing them 
well for refusing terms when first offered, the alguazil 
mayor returned with all his force to Tezcuco ; and your 
Catholic Majesty may be assured that this was a most 
signal victory, in which the Spaniards showed their 
courageous spirit in a remarkable degree. 

When the Mexicans and Temixtitans learned that the 
Spaniards and Chalconians had done so much injury to 
their people, they resolved to despatch a large force 
under certain captains against them ; and as soon as the 
Chalconians were advised of this movement they sent 
in great haste to me for aid, and I immediately des- 
patched the alguazil mayor wdth horse and foot, who 

* This watchword was much used in the wars against the Moors. — L. » 



236 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

found on his arrival that the Culuans and Chalconians 
had already met in the field, and a brisk engagement had 
taken place between them, in which, thanks be to God, 
the Chalconians had come off victorious, having slain 
many of the enemy, and taken fuU forty of them prisoners, 
amongst whom was a Mexican captain with two other 
leading personages. The Chalconians dehvered all the 
prisoners into the hands of the alguazil mayor, in order 
that he might deliver them to me ; who accordingly sent 
some of them to me, and the rest he kept with himself, 
as for the better security of the Chalconians he remained 
with his whole force in a town of theirs on the frontiers 
of Mexico. As soon as his presence appeared to be no 
longer necessary he returned to Tezcuco, and brought 
with him the other prisoners they had delivered to him. 
About the same time we had many other rencounters 
with the Culuans ; but to avoid prolixity I omit giving a 
particular account of them. 

As the road from the city of Tezcuco to the town of 
Vera Cruz was secure for travellers, either going or 
coming, the inhabitants of that place had every day news 
of us, and we of them, which before the present time 
was not the case. They now sent me a messenger, to 
gether with a quantity of crossbows, arquebuses and 
powder, which afforded us the greatest satisfaction ; and 
in two days after they sent another messenger by whom 
they advised me of the arrival at that port of three ships, 
containing a large number of men and horses, which 
they would immediately forward — a succor that God 
miraculously sent us at a time when greatly needed. 

I sought always, most powerful Sire, by every possible 
means, to gain the friendship of the inhabitants of Temix- 
titan, both because they had done nothing to deserve 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 237 

being exterminated, and to relieve ourselves after the 
toils of the past wars ; but chiefly because I knew it 
would redound to the service of your Majesty. For this 
reason whenever I had any one belonging to the city in 
my power, I sent him back to advise and warn his coun- 
trymen to make peace. On Ash Wednesday, the twenty- 
seventh day of March, in the year 1521, I caused to be 
brought before me some of the principal men of Temix- 
titan, who had been made prisoners by the Chalconians, 
and said to them, that if any of their number desired, 
they might go to the city and speak in my behalf to its 
lords, asking them to desist from warring with me, and 
to become vassals of your Majest}^ as they had already 
been, since I had no wish to destroy them, but on the 
contrary to be their friend. Although unwilling, from 
fear that by going with such a message they would be 
put to death, two of these prisoners consented to go, and 
requested me to give them a letter ; for though they did 
not understand its contents, they knew that it was a cus- 
tomary thing amongst us, and that it would give them 
credit in the city. But by means of an interpreter I made 
them comprehend what was written in the letter, which 
was the same that I had told them. So they departed, 
and I ordered five horsemen to accompany them until 
they were out of danger. 

On holy Saturday, the Chalconians and their other 
allies and friends sent to advise me that the Mexicans 
were about to invade their country, and showed me on a 
large white cloth a representation of all the towns that 
were to march against them, and the routes they would 
take ; and they begged me by all means to send them 
succor. I told them that I would do so in four or five 
days, and that if in the mean time they saw any pressing 

31 



238 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

necessity, they should let me know it, and I would come 
to their relief. On the third day after Easter, they re- 
turned to beg me to send the succor as soon as possible, 
for the enemy were rapidly approaching them. I assu- 
red them that I would come to their assistance, and on 
the following Friday they should have twenty-five horse 
and three hundred foot. 

On the preceding Thursday, messengers came to Tez- 
cuco from the provinces of Tazapae, Mascalzingo, Nau- 
tan, and other cities in this vicinity, who informed me 
that they had come to acknowledge themselves vassals 
of your Majesty, and our allies, for they had never killed 
any Spaniards, nor risen against your Majesty ; and 
they brought with them a quantity of cotton cloth as a 
present. I thanked them, and promised if they were 
faithful to treat them well ; and so they returned con- 
tented. 

The Friday following, the fifth of April, 1521, I left 
the city of Tezcuco with thirty horse and three hundred 
foot, fully equipped; and there remained in the city 
twenty horse and three hundred foot, under the command 
of Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguazil mayor. More than 
twenty thousand Tezeucans accompanied me, and ac- 
cording to the plan of our march, we went to sleep at a 
village of Chalco, called Talmanalco, where we were 
well received and lodged. At this place, as it is well 
fortified, the Chalconians after they had become our 
allies always kept a garrison, as it is on the frontiers of 
Culua. The next day we reached Chalco, at nine 
o'clock in the day, but did not remain except to inform 
the caciques of my intention to march once around the 
lakes, because I believed that when this expedition was 
completed, I should find the thirteen brigantines finished. 



..ii^^ 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 239 

and ready to be launched into the water — a matter of 
vast importance. Accordingly, as I had told the Chal- 
conians, we resumed the march that day at evening, and 
arrived at a village of theirs, where we were joined by 
more than forty thousand men of war, our allies, and 
took up our quarters for the night. As I was informed 
by the inhabitants of this village that the enemy were 
expecting me in the field, I ordered all the men to be in 
readiness at the dawn of day. The next morning, having 
heard mass, we began our march ; I led the van with 
twenty horse, ten remaining in the rear, and as in this 
manner we passed through a defile between the steep 
sierras, at two P. M. we reached a very lofty and rough 
acclivity, on the summit of which were many women and 
children, and the sides were covered with men of war. 
They immediately began to sound the alarm, and making 
many signals with smoke, discharged their slings upon 
us, and also a shower of stones, arrows, and darts ; so 
that in approaching the place we received much injury. 
Although we saw that the enemy dared not to wait for 
us in the field, it appeared to me that it would look like 
cowardice to go forward without giving them something 
they would not relish, although such was the plan of our 
march ; and in order that our friends might not suppose 
we did this from want of courage, I began to take a look 
round the hill, which was about a league in circuit. I 
found it so well defended, that to think of gaining it 
seemed like madness, although I could do so by investing 
it, and compelling the enemy to yield from mere want ; 
but I could not spare the time necessary for this purpose. 
Being thus somewhat perplexed, I at length resolved 
to scale the declivity in three places, which I had noted, 
and I ordered Cristobal Corral an ensig-n of sixty foot- 



240 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

men, (who always accompanied me,) to go forward and 
ascend the roughest place, and that a number of muske- 
teers and archers should follow him ; Juan Rodriguez, of 
Villa Fuerte, and Francisco Verdugo, captains, with 
their men, and some of the archers and musketeers, to 
ascend another place ; and Pedro Dircio and Andres de 
Monjaraz, captains, to attempt the other point with a few 
musketeers and archers ; and that when they heard 
a musket discharged, they should all resolve to ascend, 
and purchase victory or death. Immediately, on the 
discharge of a musket, they began the ascent, and suc- 
ceeded in depriving the enemy of two bends in the moun- 
tain, but were unable to get any farther, finding it impos- 
sible to hold on with their hands and feet on account of 
the unparalleled roughness and steepness of the declivity. 
The enemy hurled down rocks from the summit with 
their hands, and these rolling until broken into fragments 
which scattered in every direction, did infinite mischief; 
and so violent were these assaults of the enemy, that two 
Spaniards were killed, and more than twenty wounded. 
In short, they were unable by any means to pass beyond 
where they were. Seeing that it was impossible to ac- 
complish more than had been already done, and that great 
numbers of the enemy were coming to the relief of those 
on the mountain, the whole country being full of them, I 
ordered the captains to return, and when they had de- 
scended, our horse made a charge upon the enemy on the 
plain, killing many with their lances ; after which we pur- 
sued them for more than an hour and a half As there 
were great numbers of the enemy, the horse sallied forth 
first to one side, and then the other, and after they had 
come in from the pursuit, I was informed by some of 
them that they had gone more than a league from where 



I 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 241 

we were, and had seen another hill with many people 
upon it, but that it was not so defensible ; and that on 
the plain surrounding it there was a large population, 
and two things existed there that the other wanted ; 
one was water, which had not until then been found ; the 
other was, that the hill being of so great an extent could 
not offer as great facilities for resistance, and the people 
on it could be taken without danger. It was with feel- 
ings sad enough that we left this place without achieving 
a victory, and went to lodge that night near the other 
eminence ; and we marched with great labor and ex- 
haustion, for we had not found water, nor drank any 
the whole day, neither ourselves nor our horses. In this 
condition we were compelled to pass the night amidst 
the noises made by the enemy with kettle-drums, horns, 
and horrid outcries. 

As soon as it was day-light, several of the captains 
and myself began to reconnoitre the hill, which ap- 
peared to us to be not less formidable than the other j 
but there were two eminences higher than the main one, 
and not so hard to ascend, on which was a consider- 
able force to defend them. The captains and I, with 
other hidalgos who were there, took our bucklers and 
went on foot towards the hill, (as the horses had been 
sent to be watered a league off,) for the purpose of see- 
ing the strength of the place, and where to make an at- 
tack ; and the people, when they saw us going, although 
we had said nothing to them, voluntarily followed us. 
When we reached the foot of the hill, those who were 
on the heights supposed that I would make an attack on 
the middle of the elevation, and descended to aid their 
own people. As soon as I observed this movement, and 
that by taking possession of these two eminences much 



242 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

injury could be done to them with little noise, I ordered 
a captain to ascend immediately with his men, and oc- 
cupy one of the higher elevations which they had left, 
and he did so. 1 with the rest of the party began to 
ascend the hill itself, on which was the principal force 
of the enemy ; and it pleased God that I should gain one 
level on it, and we placed ourselves at a height that al- 
most equalled that from whence they fought ; which it 
appeared impossible to reach, at least without infinite 
danger. Already a captain had planted his flag on the 
loftiest part of the hill, from which he began to discharge 
his muskets and cross-bows on the enemy. As soon as 
they saw the injury they were likely to receive, and con- 
sidered what would be their fate, they made a signal of 
their willingness to surrender, and laid their arms on the 
ground. As my policy has always been to make these 
people understand that we do not seek to injure them, 
however guilty they may have been, but desire them 
to become vassals of your Majesty ; and as they are a 
people of so great intelligence that they comprehend and 
know every thing, I gave orders to do them no harm ; 
and when they came to speak to me I received them 
well. When they saw how kindly I treated them, 
they communicated the fact to the people on the other 
hill, who, although they had come off victorious, deter- 
mined to offer themselves for vassals of your Majesty, 
and came to ask pardon of me for the past. 

I was two days amongst the people dwelling about the 
mountain, from whence I sent the wounded to Tesaico, 
and departed myself; at ten o'clock in the day we arrived 
at Guastepeque, of which mention is made above, where 
we all lodged in a garden-house of the cacique. This 
garden is the largest, most beautiful and refreshing that 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 243 

I ever beheld ; it is two leagues in circuit, and through 
the middle of it flows a fine stream of water ; at intervals 
of about two bow-shots are houses with beds of flowers, 
and numerous trees bearing various fruits, together with 
a profusion of herbs and odoriferous plants ; so that the 
beauty and extent of the whole garden are worthy of the 
greatest admiration. That day we reposed in it, and 
the people did all they could to please and serve us. 
The next day we set out, and at eight o'clock we arrived 
at a goodly town called Yautepeque, where a great num- 
ber of the enemy were awaiting our arrival. On our 
coming it seemed as if they wished to make us some 
signal of peace, either on account of their fears, or to de- 
ceive us. But immediately, without more ado, they 
began to fly, abandoning the place ; and I did not care 
to remain in it, but with thirty horse we pursued them 
two leagues until we shut them up in another place called 
Gilutepeque, when we attacked them with lances, and 
slew many of them. In this town we found the people 
very much off their guard, because we got there before 
their scouts. Some of them were slain, and many wo- 
men and young persons were taken prisoners ; all the 
rest fled. I remained there two days, believing that the 
cacique would acknowledge himself a vassal of your 
Majesty ; but as he never came, when I left the town I 
set fire to it. Before, however, I had left it, certain per- 
sons came from the former place, called Yactepeque, and 
asked me to pardon them, saying that they desired to be- 
come vassals of your Majesty. I received them favora- 
bly, because they had already been sufficiently punished. 
On the same day that I departed, at nine o'clock in the 
morning, I came in sight of a very strong town, called 



244 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Coadnabaced, in which was a large force of the enemy.* 
The town was well defended by its situation, being sur- 
rounded by mountains and ravines, some of the latter 
fifty or sixty feet in depth ; and no horsemen could enter 
the place except by two ways, which were then unknown 
to us, and even these rendered it necessary to make a 
circuit of more than a league and a half to find the en- 
trance. There were, indeed, bridges of wood that led 
into the town, but these were raised, and were so strong 
and so well secured that although we had been ten times 
as numerous, we could not have made use of them. As 
we advanced towards the place, the enemy shot a great 
number of arrows, darts, and stones at us ; and while we 
were deliberating what course to take, a Tlascallan 
crossed over without being observed by them, by a very 
dangerous passage. When the enemy suddenly discov- 
ered him, they imagined that the Spaniards had effected 
an entrance at that point, and alarmed they blindly fled, 
pursued by the Indians and three or four young persons, 
servants of mine, with two others belonging to a captain's 
command, who, when they saw the Indian pass over, 
had followed him and crossed to the other side. In the 
mean time I began to lead the way with the cavalry to 
the mountain to find an entrance to the town, while the 
Indians, our enemies, were constantly shooting darts and 
arrows at us, there being only a ravine, like a ditch, 
between them and us.t While they were thus engaged, 
the five Spaniards that had crossed over, whom they had 
not seen, suddenly came upon their rear, and began to 

* Cuernabaca, before called Cuaunahuac, is a very pleasant and very strong 
place ; where are still preserved the houses of Cortes, used as a fortress, together 
with other memorials of the conquest. — L. 

t This ravine yet exists, and the description of Cortes still holds true. — L. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 245 

cut and slash at them, taking them completely by sur- 
prise ; for they had no idea that an attack could possibly 
come from that quarter, not knowing that their people 
had fled from the place where the Spaniards and the 
Indian had crossed ; they were thus struck with terror, 
and being afraid to resist, the Spanish soldiers killed a 
number of them, until seeing how they had been deceived, 
they began to fly. Our infantry had now entered the 
town, and commenced setting fire to it, while the enemy 
were forsaking it, taking refuge in the mountain, although 
many of them perished, being pursued by our horse and 
slain in great numbers. It was about midday when we 
found where we could enter the city, and we took some 
repose in the houses of a garden, although we found them 
nearly all burned. Towards evening, the cacique and 
some of the other nobles, seeing that it was useless to 
attempt to defend even so strong a place, and fearing that 
we should pursue them into the mountain and destroy 
them, determined to come and acknowledge themselves 
vassals of your Majesty ; and I received them as such, 
and they promised me to be henceforth forever our 
friends. These Indians and others who came to give 
themselves up as vassals of your Majesty, after the burn- 
ing and destruction of their houses and haciendas, told us 
that the reason of their coming in so late was, that they 
thought their offences would be atoned for more effectu- 
ally if they suffered first some injury, and that when 
this was done, we should have no unfriendly feelings 
towards them. 

We slept that night in the town, and in the morning 
pursued our route through a country of pine trees, unin- 
habited, and destitute of water ; we passed on a road 
leading through a narrow mountain defile, suffering much 

32 



246 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

from fatigue and want of drink ; many of the Indians 
even, who accompanied us, perishing with thirst. Seven 
leagues from that place we spent the night in camp. 
At dawn of day we resumed our route, and came in 
sight of a great city called Suchimilco, built on the fresh 
water lake. As the inhabitants were apprised of our 
coming, they had digged many ditches and canals, and 
raised the bridges at all the entrances into the city, which 
is three or four leagues distant from Temixtitan. The 
population was large and inteUigent, and resolved to de- 
fend themselves or die in the attempt. As soon as we 
had arrived there, having collected our whole force and 
disposed it in the best manner, I dismounted from 
my horse and proceeded with several of the infantry 
towards a ditch they had made, on the other side of 
which were posted a considerable number of the enemy. 
When the engagement commenced, they suffered much 
oss from the crossbows and musketry, and fled in con- 
fusion, while the Spaniards threw themselves into the 
ivater and passing on reached terra Jirma. In the half 
lOur during which the fighting lasted, we took the princi- 
pal part of the city, and the enemy retreating through 
he sti-eets of water fought in their canoes till night. 
5ome of them sued for peace, and others continued 
ighting ; and they so often asked for a cessation of hos- 
cilities, that we came to the conclusion that it was done 
to enable them to carry away their goods in safety, or to 
gain time for the arrival of succors from Mexico and 
Temixtitan. 

This day two Spaniards were killed, who having left 
the ranks for the purpose of plunder found themselves 
beyond the reach of assistance from the rest of the army. 
In the evening the enemy endeavored to devise some 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 247 

way to cut us off, so that we could not leave this city 
without the loss of our lives. Having assembled a large 
force, they determined to attack us in that quarter of the 
city where we had entered, and seeing them advance 
with so much ardor and activity, we were astonished, 
and taking six of the cavalry that were more at hand 
than the rest, I charged upon the midst of them. They 
fled from fear of the horses, and we thus passed out of 
the city behind them, slaying many, although we were 
in great danger ; some of them discovering so much 
courage as to wait for the advance of the cavalry, being 
armed with sword and buckler. When we had become 
in this manner mixed up with the enemy in great con- 
fusion, the horse on which I rode fell from excessive 
fatigue, and some of them seeing me on foot, rushed 
upon me, while I defended myself with my lance ; but 
an Indian of Tlascala, as soon as he saw my situation, 
ran to my assistance, and he and one of my servants 
who also soon came up aided me in raising my horse. 
The Spaniards had now reached this quarter, and the 
enemy abandoned the field ; while I, with other horse- 
men who arrived, being excessively fatigued, returned 
to the city. Although it was now almost night, and 
there was need of repose, I ordered all the bridges that 
had been raised, under which the water flowed, to be 
dammed up with stone and brick, so that the horsemen 
could enter and leave the city without any noise ; and I 
did not leave the ground until all the bad places were 
repaired. After using much precaution, and setting 
many guards, we retired for the night. 

The next day, when the inhabitants of the province 
of Mexico and Temixtitan learned that we were in Suchi- 
milco, they determined to come in great strength by 



248 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

water and by land, to surround us, believing that we could 
not escape from their hands. I ascended a tower con- 
taining their idols, for the purpose of seeing in what 
manner they would approach, and in what quarter they 
would attack us, in order to take proper measures to 
meet them. "When all our preparations were completed, 
there arrived by water a great fleet of canoes, exceeding 
two thousand in number, as I believe ; and in them came 
more than twelve thousand warriors ; at the same time 
the whole country was covered with the multitudes that 
poured in by land. The leaders of the advance troops 
bore in their hands swords that had been taken from our 
people, and calling out the names of their provinces, 
cried, ^^ Mexico, Mexico — Temixtitan, Temixtitan ;'''' at the 
same time they showered reproaches upon us, and 
threatened to slay us with the swords that they had 
taken from us on a former occasion in the city of Temix- 
titan. After I had assigned each captain his post, finding 
that there were great numbers of the enemy on terra 
jirma, I proceeded against them with twenty horse and 
five hundred Tlascallans, dividing my force into three 
parts ; and I ordered that when they had dispersed the 
enemy, they should rendezvous at the foot of a hill, half 
a league distant from there, because many of the enemy 
were at that point. When we had divided, each squad- 
ron pursued the enemy under its own leader ; and after 
having routed them and with lances killed many, we 
sought the rendezvous at the base of the hill ; and I 
ordered several foot soldiers, servants of mine, who were 
very daring, to endeavor to ascend the steepest part of 
the hill. I then with the horse went round to the rear, 
where it was more level, and attacked the enemy in the 
centre ; and when they saw the Spaniards ascend the 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 249 

hill, they threw down their swords, thinking to find safety 
in flight, but they encountered our party of fifteen horse, 
when we and the Tlascallans made an attack upon them. 
In this way there perished in a short time more than five 
hundred of the enemy ; all the rest escaped and took 
refuge in the mountains. The other six horsemen hap- 
pened to take a wide and level road, from which they 
hurled their darts at the enemy ; and at half a league 
from Suchimilco they fell upon a squadron of very hand- 
some troops, who were coming to the relief of their 
countrymen, and defeated them, slaying some with their 
lances. 

It was now ten o'clock in the day, when all the cavalry 
having come together, we returned to Suchimilco, and 
at the entrance of the town I found many Spaniards, 
who were anxiously desiring our return, and to know 
what success we had met with ; and they informed me 
that they had been hotly engaged, and had labored hard 
to drive out the enemy, of whom they had killed great 
numbers. They gave me two of our swords, which they 
had retaken, and said that the archers had used up their 
arrows, and could obtain no more. While listening to 
this account, before we had dismounted, a large squadron 
of the enemy with loud cries appeared on a wide cause- 
way, and we immediately rushed upon them, causing them 
to throw themselves into the water which was on both 
sides of the causeway. Thus we put them to route, and 
collecting our people together, we returned much ex- 
hausted to the city, where I ordered every thing to be 
burnt except the house in which we lodged. We had thus 
been three days in the city, continually engaged in fight- 
ing ; and at length departed, leaving it wholly destroyed 
and razed to the ground. It was a spectacle worth be- 



250 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

holding, as there were many houses and towers for idols, 
built of stone and lime ; but to avoid prolixity, I forbear 
to particularize other remarkable things connected with 
this city. 

The day on which I left this place I went out to a 
public square, which was connected with the city by 
the main land, where the inhabitants pursued their 
traffic ; and I ordered ten of the cavalry to advance to 
the front, ten others to be stationed in the centre of the 
infantry, and the remaining ten to fall into the rear. 
When the Suchimilcans saw that we were beginning to 
move away, thinking that it was from fear, they rushed 
upon our rear with loud cries ; and the ten horsemen 
and myself returned to attack them, and pursued them 
until they plunged into the water ; by this means they 
were taught to let us alone, and we continued our route. 
At ten o'clock in the day we arrived at the city of Cuyo- 
can, two leagues firom Suchimilco, and about the same 
distance from the cities of Temixtitan, Culuacan, Uchi- 
lubusco, (Churubusco,) Iztapalapa, Cuitaguaca, and 
Mizqueque, all of which are situated on the water. The 
most distant of these is one and a half leagues, which we 
found deserted by the inhabitants, and we took our 
quarters in the house of the cacique, where we remained 
two days. As when the brigantines were completed I 
should have occasion to place them round Temixtitan, 
I wished first to see the disposition of that city, its en- 
trances and outlets, and where the Spaniards could make 
an attack, or be hkely to receive one. The day after 
I arrived, I took five horse and two hundred foot, and 
went towards the lake, which is very near; by means 
of a causeway that leads into the city of Temixtitan, 
when we beheld a great number of canoes on the water, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 251 

and in them a countless multitude of warriors. We 
reached an entrenchment, which the enemy had thrown 
up on the causeway, against which the infantry com- 
menced an attack ; and although it was very strong, and 
stoutly defended, ten Spaniards being wounded, we at 
length carried it, and killed many of the enemy, although 
the archers and musketeers were left without arrows 
and powder. From this place we saw how the cause- 
way passes straight over the water until it reaches Te- 
mixtitan, a full league and a half; and both this, and 
the other which goes to Iztapalapa, were covered with an 
innumerable crowd of people. When I had considered 
well whatever was necessary to be seen, as we should 
be compelled to have a garrison of foot and horse in this 
city, I collected our force together and returned to the 
town, burning the houses and the towers of the idols. 

The next day we left this city for Tacuba, two leagues 
distant, and arrived at nine in the day, throwing our 
lances on one side and the other, as the enemy issued 
from the lake to attack the Indians who were transport- 
ing our equipage ; and finding themselves deceived they 
suffered us to proceed in peace. Since, as I have al- 
ready stated, my principal intention was to endeavor to 
make the circuit of all the lakes in order to understand 
and obtain a better knowledge of the country, and also 
to succor some of our allies, I did not care to stop at 
Tacuba. But when the Mexicans (whose city is very 
near that place, and even extends so far as to reach the 
main land at Tacuba) saw us pass by, they recovered 
their spirits, and with great boldness made an attack 
upon our baggage ; and when our horse came up in 
good order, it being all level ground, we gave a good 
account of the enemy, without ourselves incurring any 



252 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

danger. As we were dashing from one side to the other, 
several youths in my service followed me in my move- 
ments ; but at one time two of them neglected to do so, 
and found themselves so situated that they could not es- 
cape falling into the hands of the enemy, who, without 
doubt, would put them to a cruel death, as they are 
wont to do. My feelings on this occasion God only 
knows, on account of their being Christians, and men 
of valor, who had performed good service for your 
Majesty in this war. 

Leaving this city, we began to pursue our route through 
other villages in the vicinity, and drew near the enemy, 
who, I ascertained, had taken the young men prisoners. 
In order to revenge their death, and because the enemy 
followed us with terrible outcries, I with twenty horse 
placed myself behind some houses in ambush ; and 
when the Indians saw the other ten horse and all the 
people and baggage going on before, they immediately 
pursued them by a road that was wide and level, with- 
out fear. As soon as we saw them pass, I gave the 
watchword "the Apostle St. James, ^^Yhen we rushed upon 
them with great violence. And before they had thrown 
themselves into the canals near by, we had slain more 
than a hundred of their principal men, and they no 
longer cared to follow us. This day we went to sleep 
two leagues in advance, at the city of Coatinchan, very 
much wearied and wet, for it had rained much that 
night, and we found the place deserted. The next day 
we resumed our march, casting our lances from time 
to time at some Indians who came forth to greet us with 
outcries ; and we went to sleep at a village called Gilo- 
tepeque, which we also found deserted. The next day, 
at twelve o'clock, we arrived at a city called Aculnian, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 253 

which is in the seignory of the city of Tezcuco, where 
we went to lodge that night, and were well received by 
the Spaniards, who congratulated us on our arrival and 
safety ; for since I had departed from them, they had 
known nothing of me till the day that we arrived. They 
had had many suspicions in the city, and the inhabitants 
of the city had told them every day that the Mexicans 
would attack them while I was gone. Thus was con- 
cluded, by the aid of God, this expedition ; it was a 
great enterprise, in which your Majesty received much 
service in various ways, as I shall hereafter relate. 

At the time, most powerful and invincible Sire, when 
I was in the city of Temixtitan, soon after my first arrival, 
I made provision, as I informed your Majesty in my for- 
mer relation, that in two or three provinces prepared for 
this purpose, there should be established for your Majes- 
ty's benefit certain farm-houses where the cultivation of 
the soil and other things suited to the nature of the coun- 
try should be attended to. To one of these provinces, 
called Chinantla,* I sent two Spaniards ,* this province was 
not subject to the Culuans. In the others, which existed 
at the time they made war on me in the city of Temixti- 
tan, those persons who had charge of the plantations 
were slain, and the establishments robbed of all they con- 
tained, being of considerable value according to the es- 
timation of the country. Almost a year passed without 
my hearing any thing of the Spaniards at Chinantla ; since 
all those provinces having rebelled against us, neither 
could they hear from us, nor we from them. The native 

* Chinantla is towards Vera Cruz, more nearly opposite than that city to the 
island of Sacrificios ; to this province was sent Hernando Barrientos, where he 
was ordered by Cortes to fabricate lances larger and stronger than the common 
kind ; and on account of the black flints with which they pointed the lances, 
the place was called Chinanthla. — L. 

83 



254 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

inhabitants of the province of Chinantla, being vassals of 
your Majesty and enemies of the Culuans, told these 
Christians by no means to depart out of their land, be- 
cause the Culuans had made war upon us, and they 
believed that few or none of our people survived. So 
these two Spaniards remained in that country, and the 
natives made one of them, who was young and a soldier, 
their captain ; and at that time he went with them to 
make war on their enemies, and several times he and 
the people of Chinantla came off victorious. When after- 
wards it pleased God that we should recover our position 
and vanquish our enemies, who had defeated us, and 
driven us from Temixtitan, the people of Chinantla in- 
formed these Christians that they knew there were some 
Spaniards in the province of Tepeaca, and if they wished 
to obtain certain information, they would risk two Indi- 
ans, although they had to pass through much of their 
enemies' country ; but they should go by night, and out 
of the travelled road, until they reached Tepeaca. By 
these two Indians one of the Spaniards, who was supe- 
rior to the other, sent a letter, the tenor of which was as 
follows : — 

"Noble Sirs, — I have written two or three letters to 
your honors, and I know not whether they reached you 
or not ; and since I have received no answer to them, I 
also regard it as doubtful whether I shall receive one to 
this. Be it known to you, sirs, that all the natives of the 
land of Culua have risen, and several times visited us 
with war ; but always, praised be our Lord, we have 
come ofFconquerors. And with the people of Tuxtepeque, 
on account of their connexion with Culua, we every day 
had hostilities. Those who are in the service of his 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 255 

Highness and his vassals are seven towns of the Tenez ;* 
and Nicolas and I are always in Chinantla, which is the 
chief of them. I much desire to know where the captain 
is, that I may be able to write to him and inform him of 
things here. If by chance you should write me where he 
is, please to send twenty or thirty Spaniards to escort 
me to him, with two of the principal people of this 
place, who desire to see and converse with him ; and it 
would be well for them to come now, since as it is now 
time to gather the cacao, the Culuans hinder it by their 
wars. May our Lord protect the persons of your honors 
according to your desire. From Chinantla, on I know 
not what day of April, 1521. My service to your 
honors. 

HERNANDO DE BARRIENTOS."t 

When the two Indians arrived in the province of Te- 
peaca with this letter, the captain I had left there in 
command of a Spanish force sent it immediately to me 
at Tezcuco ; and we all felt great satisfaction in receiving 
it, for although we had placed great confidence in the 
friendship of the people of Chinantla, we feared that if 
they confederated with the Culuans, they would have 
put to death the two Spaniards. I immediately wrote 
to them, giving an account of what had passed, and en- 
couraging them to hope that although they were sur- 
rounded on all sides by the enemy, soon, if it pleased 
God, they would find themselves free, and able to go 
and come in safety. 

After having made the circuit of the lakes, and acquired 

* These towns are in the province of Tabasco. — L. 

t This Hernando Barrientos is the ancestor of the noble family of the Barri- 
entos of Mexico. — L. 



2&6 • LETTERS OF CORTES. 

much information that might be of use in investing the 
city of Mexico by land and water, I returned to Tezcuco, 
where I provided myself to the best of my ability with 
men and arms, and hastened the completion of the bri- 
gantines and a trench by which they were to be floated 
to the lake. This trench had been commenced directly 
after the arrival of the timber and planks composing the 
brigantines, and formed a canal extending from near 
our quarters until it discharged into the lake. The dis- 
tance from the place where the brigantines were put to- 
gether and the head of the canal to the lake, is full half 
a league ; and in this work fifty days were consumed, 
and more than 8000 persons employed each day, natives 
of the province of Aculuacan and Tezcuco. The canal 
was about twelve feet in depth, and as many more in 
breadth, and was protected by a coating and a fence or 
paling throughout its whole length, so that the water 
that flowed in it was conveyed without loss to the lake. 
Thus the brigantines were able to be removed to the 
lake unattended by danger or labor ; a grand work cer- 
tainly, and worthy of admiration.* 

* A plan of the city and lakes of Mexico will be found at the end of the fifth 
chapter of this Letter. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 257 



CHAPTER III. 

As soon as the brigantines were completed and 
launched into the canal, on the twenty-eighth of April 
in that year, I reviewed our whole force, and found it to 
consist of eighty-six horse, one hundred and eighteen 
archers and musketeers, seven hundred and more foot, 
armed with sword and buckler, together with three heavy 
iron cannon, fifteen small copper field-pieces, and ten 
hundred weight of powder. Having finished the review, 
I charged and enjoined much on the Spaniards to observe 
and comply with the orders I should give them in con- 
ducting the war with as great strictness as possible ; and 
that they should take fresh courage and spirits, since 
they saw that our lord was leading us to victory over 
our enemies ; for they knew that when we entered Tez- 
cuco, we had not brought more than forty horse, and that 
God had succored us beyond our expectations, ships 
having arrived with horses, men, and arms, as they had 
seen ; and that they should consider especially, that we 
were fighting in behalf and for the spread of our faith, 
and to reduce to your Majesty's service the lands and 
provinces that had rebelled ; a consideration which 
should inspire them with courage and zeal to conquer or 
die. They all answered and showed an entire willing- 
ness and alacrity in complying with my wishes ; and the 
day of the review was passed by us with great enjoy- 
ment and a desire to commence the siege and end the 
war on which depended the peace or disquiet of these 
parts. 



^58 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

The next day I sent messengers to the provinces of 
Tascaltecal, Guajocingo, and Churultecal, to inform them 
that the brigantines were finished, and that I and our 
whole force were in readiness to take up the line of 
march for the investment of the great city of Temixtitan. 
I therefore desired, as they had been advised by me, and 
should now have their people prepared, that with the 
largest number they could raise, and well armed, they 
should depart and come to Tezcuco, where I would wait 
for them ten days, and that on no account could I exceed 
that time, as it would greatly disconcert our plans. 
When the messengers arrived, the inhabitants of those 
provinces were already prepared, and quite eager to 
engage with the Culuans ; those of Guajocingo and 
Churultecal came by the way of Chalco, as they were 
ordered by me, because it was nearer for them to take 
part in the siege from that quarter. The Tlascallan cap- 
tains with all their people, in fine condition and well 
armed, arrived at Tezcuco five or six days before Whit- 
sunday, which was the time I had designated for them ; 
and as I knew they would come on that day I went forth 
to receive them with lively satisfaction ; and they arrived 
with the greatest possible alacrity and good order. Ac- 
cording to the return made to us by the captains, there 
were fifty thousand warriors, who were well received by 
us and provided with quarters. 

The second day in Whitsun week I ordered all the in- 
fantry and cavalry to parade on the public square of the 
city of Tezcuco, for the purpose of making a disposition 
of the troops, and assigning to the captains their respec- 
tive commands in three divisions, to be stationed in the 
three cities around Mexico. One division I assigned to 
Pedro de Alvarado, and gave him thirty horse, eighteen 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 259 

archers and musketeers, and one hundred and fifty in- 
fantry, armed with sword and buckler, together with 
more than twenty-five thousand warriors of Tlascala ; 
these were to take up a position in the city of Tacuba. 

The next division I assigned to Cristobal Olid, to whom 
I gave thirty-three horse, eighteen archers and musketeers, 
and one hundred and sixty infantry with sword and 
buckler, together with more than twenty thousand war- 
riors of our allies. This division was to occupy the city 
of Cuyoacan. 

Of the third division I made Gonzalo de Sandoval 
(the alguazil mayor) captain, and assigned him twenty- 
four horse, four musketeers, thirteen archers, and one 
hundred and fifty infantry with sword and buckler, fifty 
of these being a select corps of young men that I brought 
in my company, besides the people of Guajocingo, Chu- 
rultecal and Chalco, more than thirty thousand men in 
all. This division was destined for the city of Iztapalapa, 
which was to be destroyed ; after which it was to pass 
over a causeway on the lake under cover of the brigan- 
tines, and unite with the division at Cuyoacan, when I 
should have entered the lake with the brigantines. The 
alguazil mayor was allowed to take his position where- 
ever it seemed to him most advantageous. 

For the thirteen brigantines with which I was to enter 
the lake I left three hundred men, most of whom were 
seamen, well skilled in their profession ; each brigantine 
carrying twenty-five Spaniards, and each having its 
captain and commissary, together with six archers and 
musketeers. 

The orders above mentioned having been communi- 
cated, the two captains who were assigned to the cities 
of Tacuba and Cuyoacan, after receiving instructions as 



260 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

to what they were to do, departed from Tezcuco on the 
tenth of May, and took up their quarters for the night 
two leagues and a half from there at the fine village of 
Aculman. The same day I ascertained there had been 
some difference between the captains on the subject of 
quarters, and I took means at once the same night to 
remedy it, and make peace between them ; and I sent a 
person on this errand, who reproved them and brought 
about a reconciliation. The next morning they left that 
place, and proceeded to another village called Jilotepe- 
que, [Juitepec,] which they found deserted, as it was 
in the enemy's country. The next day they pursued 
their route according to their orders, and reached the 
city of Guatitlan, of which I have before made mention 
to your Majesty, which they also found abandoned by its 
inhabitants. The same day they passed through two 
other cities and villages, which were also deserted. At 
the hour of vespers they entered Tacuba, and finding no 
inhabitants, took up their quarters in the houses of the 
Cacique, which are very spacious and handsome ; and 
although it was evening, the Tlascallans paid a visit to 
the entrance of two causeways leading to the city of Te- 
mixtitan, and fought two or three hours gallantly against 
the troops of the city, until the night separated them, 
when they returned in safety to Tacuba. 

The next morning the two captains determined, as I 
had ordered them, to cut off the fresh water that is car- 
ried by pipes into the city of Temixtitan ; and one of 
them with twenty horse and several musketeers and 
bowmen proceeded to the head of the aqueduct, which 
is a quarter of a league distant, and cut and broke the 
pipes, that were composed of wood, stone and mortar, 
and fought resolutely with the people of the city, who de- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 261 

fended the aqueduct by land and water ; they finally 
routed the enemy, and completed their purpose by stop- 
ping the course of the fresh water from which the city 
was supplied — a very politic movement. 

The same day the captains put in order several dan- 
gerous passes, bridges, and canals, that were round the 
lake, so that the horsemen could move freely from one 
part to the other. While this was doing, which caused 
a delay of three or four days, they had many rencoun- 
ters with the citizens, in which some of the Spaniards 
were wounded and many of the enemy killed ; several dikes 
and bridges were taken ; and speeches and challenges were 
exchanged between the citizens and the Tlascallans, which 
were well worthy of notice. Captain Cristobal Dolid 
then departed with the division of the army that had 
been assigned to the city of Cuyoacan, two leagues from 
Tacuba ; and Captain Pedro de Alvarado, was left with 
his division at Tacuba, where every day he was engaged 
in skirmishes and battles with the Indians. The same 
day that Cristobal Dolid set out for Cuyoacan, he and 
his men reached that place at ten o'clock, and took up 
their quarters in the houses of the cacique, the city 
being deserted by the inhabitants. The next morning 
they paid a visit to the causeway that leads into Temixti- 
tan, with about twenty horse and several archers, and 
six or seven thousand Tlascallans ; when they found the 
inhabitants well prepared, the causeway broken up, and 
many dikes erected as defences. They engaged with the 
enemy, and the archers wounded and killed several of 
their number. These visits were repeated for six or 
seven days, during each of which several encounters and 
skirmishes took place. On one night, about midnight, 
there came certain scouts from the city, making loud 

34 



262 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

shoutings about our quarters, when the Spanish sentinels 
called " to arms ;" the men rushed forth, but found none 
of the enemy, the shoutings that had caused the alarm 
being heard from a distance. As our force was divided 
into so many parts, these two divisions desired my arri- 
val with the brigantines as their only safety ; and with 
this hope they waited some few days until I arrived, as I 
shall hereafter relate. During those six days the two 
divisions met in the course of the day, as they were near 
one another, and the cavalry scoured the country, always 
destroying with their lances many of the enemy ; they 
also collected from the neighboring heights a large quan- 
tity of maize, of which bread is made, the principal food 
of the people in this region, and much superior to that of 
the islands. 

In the preceding chapters I stated that I remained at 
Tesaico with three hundred men and the thirteen bri- 
gantines ; as soon as I ascertained that the divisions of 
the army had reached their positions, I embarked and 
took a look at the city, doing some injury to the canoes. 
Although I was very desirous of being upon the land for 
the purpose of directing the movements of the army, 
yet as the captains were persons who could be safely en- 
trusted with the business committed to tiiem, and the 
charge of the brigantines was one of much importance, 
and required great concert of action and care, I deter- 
mined to embark in them, the greatest advantage as well 
as risk being likely to occur by water ; notwithstanding 
I was formally requested by the principal persons with 
me to join the divisions, as in their opinion most exposed 
to danger. The next day after the feast of Corpus 
Christi, [the Ascension,] Friday, at dawn of day, I de- 
spatched Gonzalo de Sandoval with his division from 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 263 

Tesaico, in a direct course to the city of Iztapalapa, six 
short leagues distant ; at a little past noon they arrived 
■there, and immediately began to set fire to the city and 
attack the inhabitants. As soon as they saw the large 
force under the command of the alguazil mayor, (for he 
had with him 35 or 40,000 men of our allies,) the people 
took refuge in their canoes on the lake. The alguazil 
mayor, with his whole force, took up his quarters in that 
city, and remained there a day, waiting my orders and 
watching my movements. 

After I had despatched the alguazil mayor, I imme- 
diately went on board the brigantines, and by the aid of 
sails and oars we took our departure ; and while the algua- 
zil mayor was engaged in fighting and setting fire to the 
city of Iztapalapa, we arrived in sight of a large and 
strongly fortified hill near that city, occupying an insu- 
lated situation in the lake ; there were many people on 
it, as well of those dwelling round the lake, as from Te- 
mixtitan ; for they knew well that the first encounter 
would be with the people of Iztapalapa, and they were 
there to defend themselves, and if possible to attack us. 
As soon as they saw our fleet approach, they began to 
shout and make great smokes as a signal to inform all 
the cities of the lakes of our coming, that they might be 
in readiness to meet us. Although my plan was to attack 
the part of the city of Iztapalapa that was situated on 
the water, we turned against this hill, and I leaped upon 
it with one hundred and fifty men. It was very steep 
and high, and it was with much difficulty that we began 
to ascend it ; and we took by storm the entrenchments 
which they had raised on its summit for their defence. 
We came upon them in such a manner that not one of 
them escaped except the women and children ; and in 



264 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

this combat twenty-five Spaniards were wounded, but a 
most brilliant victory was obtained. 

As the people of Iztapalapa had made signals of smoke 
from the towers of their idols, situated on a very lofty 
elevation very near the city, the Mexicans and inhabit- 
ants of the other cities on the lakes knew that I was 
entering the lake with the brigantines ; and all at once 
an immense fleet of canoes was assembled to attack us, 
and discover what sort of things the brigantines were ; 
so far as we could judge they exceeded five hundred in 
number. As soon as I saw that they were bending their 
course directly towards us, I with the men who had landed 
on the hill went on board in much haste, and I ordered 
the commanders of the brigantines by no means to move, 
since the canoes were determined to attack us, and would 
believe that from fear we did not venture out to meet 
them ; so in great force the enemy began to direct their 
course towards us. But when within about two bow-shots 
they halted and remained quiet ; and in the mean time, 
while I Was anxious that the first encounter we had with 
them should be marked by a signal victory, and inspire 
them with great dread of the brigantines, which were 
the key of the whole war, as both the enemy and our- 
selves would suffer most by water — it pleased our Lord 
that while we were looking at one another, a wind arose 
from the land favorable to an attack upon them, and I 
instantly gave orders to the commanders to break through 
the fleet of canoes, and pursue them until they took re- 
fuge in the city of Temixtitan. As the wind was fair, 
we bore down upon the midst of them, and although 
they fled as fast as possible, we broke an immense num- 
ber of canoes, and destroyed many of the enemy in a 
style worthy of admiration. In the chase we followed 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 265 

them full three long leagues, till they were locked up 
amongst the houses of the city ; and thus it pleased our 
Lord to grant us a greater and more complete victory 
than we had ventured to ask or desire. 

The division of the army posted at Cuyoacan was 
better able than that stationed in the city of Tacuba to 
see the movements of the brigantines ; and when they 
espied the thirteen sail upon the lake, and observed the 
rapidity with which we moved, and that we dispersed 
all the canoes of the enemy, it was to them, as they 
afterwards assured me, the most gratifying spectacle, as 
well as the most desirable one, in the world. I have 
already stated that both divisions were extremely anxious 
for my arrival, and with good reason, for they were in 
the midst of a vast multitude of the enemy; but it 
pleased our Lord to raise the courage of our troops, and 
weaken that of the enemy, so that they were unable to 
summon resolution enough to attack our camp ; which 
if they had done the Spaniards could not fail to have 
received great injury, though they were always well pre- 
pared, and resolved to conquer or die, since they were 
cut off from all succor save that which they hoped from 
God. So when the division at Cuyoacan discovered us 
in pursuit of the canoes, the greater part of the horse 
and foot that were there took yp the line of march for 
the city of Temixtitan, and bravely engaged with the 
Indians on the causeway ;* they gained the trenches that 
had been made by the enemy, took them, and passed 
horse and foot over many bridges that they had aban- 
doned, being favored in their movements by the brigan- 
tines, which approached near to the causeway. The 

* On the causeway of La Piedad, which leads to Cuyoacan, there are at this 
day eight or nine bridges. — L. 



266 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Indians of Tlascala, our allies, and the Spaniards pur- 
sued the enemy, made great havoc amongst them and 
cast them into the water on the side of the causeway 
opposite that approached by the brigantines. In this 
manner they proceeded victoriously more than a long 
league on the causeway, until they reached the spot 
where I had hove to with the brigantines, as I shall 
hereafter relate. 

We proceeded with the brigantines full three leagues 
in chase of the canoes ; of which those that escaped us 
took refuge amongst the bouses of the city, and as it was 
after vespers, I ordered the vessels to be called in, and 
sailed with them to the causeway, where I resolved to 
land with thirty men to take two small towers of idols, 
that were enclosed by a low wall of stone and mortar ; 
and when we had landed, the enemy fought very spiritedly 
in defence of the towers, which at length after a long 
and perilous struggle we succeeded in taking. I then 
immediately caused three heavy iron pieces of ordnance 
which I had brought with me, to be mounted on the 
causeway. As the rest of the causeway as far as the 
city, a distance of half a league, was covered with 
crowds of the enemy, and both sides of it thronged with 
canoes full of warriors, I caused one of the guns to be 
levelled, which raked the causeway, making great havoc 
amongst them. Owing to the carelessness of the gunner 
at the place where we fired, all the powder we had 
there was burnt ; the quantity, however, was not large. 
I immediately sent the same night a brigantine to Izta- 
palapa, where the alguazil mayor was, about two leagues 
off, to bring all the powder he had. Although it had 
been my intention at first, as soon as I embarked in the 
brigantines, to go to Cuyoacan, and place it in a strong 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 267 

condition, that the army might move with great caution, 
and arnioy the enemy as much as possible ; yet on the 
day I landed upon the causeway and took the two towers, 
I determined to occupy that position with my camp, and 
to assemble the brigantines near the towers. I also or- 
dered half of the force at Cuyoacan and fifty other foot 
soldiers belonging to the alguazil mayor's division to 
repair to the same place on the next" day. These mea- 
sures being taken, we remained there that night with 
the utmost caution ; for we were exposed to great dan- 
ger, as all the people of the city had poured forth along 
the causeway and on the water for the common defence ; 
and at midnight a great multitude came in canoes and 
on the causeway, to attack our camp. We were thrown 
into some degree of alarm by this movement of the 
enemy, especially as it was night, and they were never 
known to make an assault by night unless fully assured 
of victory. But as our men were well prepared to re- 
ceive them, we began to engage in the fight, opening a 
fire on them with the small field pieces in the brigantines, 
(each of which carried one,) .and also from the archers 
and musketeers. By this means their advance was 
checked before they had been able to do us any harm, and 
we passed the remainder of the night without any further 
annoyance. 

The next morning at day-light^ there arrived in the 
camp on the causeway, where I was posted, fifteen archers 
and musketeers, fifty men armed with sword and buckler, 
and seven or eight horse, from the division of Cuyoacan ; 
and at the time of their coming we were engaged in bat- 
tle with the people from the city in canoes and along the 
causeway, and the multitude was so great that neither 
by land or water could we see any thing but human be- 



268 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

ings, who uttered such dreadful howls and outcries that 
it seemed as if the world would come to an end. We 
fought them on the causeway, and gained possession of a 
bridge which they had abandoned and an entrenchment 
they had made at its entrance. With the aid of our guns 
and the cavalry, we made such an impression on them, 
that we drove them for refuge almost into the nearest 
houses of the city. "As on the other side of the causeway, 
to which the brigantines could not pass, many canoes 
came up, and annoyed us much with the arrows and darts 
that they discharged along the causeway, I caused an 
opening to be made in it near our camp, and four brigan- 
tines to pass through, which, as they passed, dispersed all 
the canoes, which fled to the settled pajrt of the city ; so 
that they were unable to sally forth into any part of the 
lake. On the other side of the causeway, the eight brig- 
antines contended with the canoes, and drove them in 
amongst the houses of the city, pursuing them into the 
same quarter, where we had not ventured before on ac- 
count of the msLny shallow places and stakes that inter- 
rupted our progress. When we discovered the canals by 
which a secure entrance was afforded to the city, we en- 
gaged with the canoes in the suburbs, and took some of 
them, and burned many houses in that quarter of the city. 
All this day we spent in combating with the enemy, as I 
have related. 

The following day the alguazil mayor with the people 
whom he had at Iztapalapa, both Spaniards and allies, 
departed for Cuyoacan, from which place a causeway 
extends to the main land, a distance of about a league 
and a half. At the commencement of his march, the 
alguazil mayor arrived at a small city [Mexicaltzingo] 
about a quarter of a league from Iztapalapa, which was 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 269 

situated on the water, and over many parts of it one can 
ride on horseback ; the inhabitants of this place began to 
attack him, but he defeated them, killing many and burn- 
ing and destroying the whole city. When I learned that 
the Indians had made a considerable breach in the cause- 
way, so that the people could no longer pass over it with 
ease, I sent two brigantines to assist them in passing, of 
which they formed a bridge for the infantry to cross over 
the breach. As soon as they had passed, they went to 
lodge at Cuyoacan, and the alguazil mayor with ten horse- 
men took the road to the causeway where we had fixed 
our camp, and when he arrived, he found us engaged in 
combat ; dismounting with his followers, he and they 
joined in the action against the enemy on the causeway, 
with whom we had become again involved. When the 
alguazil mayor took part in the battle, he received a wound 
in the foot from a lance ; but although they wounded him 
and several others that day, we did them much harm 
with our heavy ordnance, as well as bowmen and mus- 
keteers ; so that neither in the canoes, nor on the cause- 
way, did they dare to approach us, but manifested greater 
fear and less assurance than they were wont to do. We 
were thus engaged six days, during every one of which 
we encountered the enemy : and the brigantines passed 
round the city, burning all the houses they could, having 
discovered a canal by which they could enter the envi-- 
rons and the suburbs, and even approach the main part 
of the city, which had a very favorable effect, and made 
the canoes discontinue their hostile visits, none of them 
daring to appear within a quarter of a league of our 
camp. 

The next day Pedro de Alvarado, who was stationed 
with the division of the army at Tacuba, informed me 

36 



270 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

that, on the other side of the city, there was a causeway 
which led to the villages on the main land, together with 
a small one connected with it, by means of which the in- 
habitants entered and went out when they pleased ; and 
he believed that when they saw themselves compelled by 
necessity, they would all make their escape that way. 
Although I rather desired their departure from the city, 
as we could succeed better against them on terra firma 
than in a great fortress on the water ; nevertheless, in 
order that they might be wholly surrounded, and without 
the power of making any progress on the main land, I 
ordered the alguazil mayor, wounded as he was, to es- 
tablish his quarters in a small town to which one of the 
two causeways referred to extended.* He accordingly 
went thither with twenty-three horse, one hundred foot, 
and eighteen bowmen and musketeers, leaving me the 
other fifty foot, which I had with my own force ; and on 
his arrival he encamped where I had directed him. Thus 
from that time the city of Temixtitan was invested on all 
sides, wherever it communicated by causeways with 
terra firma. 

I had, most powerful Sire, in the camp on the cause- 
way two hundred Spanish infantry, amongst whom were 
twenty-five archers and musketeers, exclusive of the men 
in the brigantines, who were more than two hundred and 
fifty in number. In order that we might keep the enemy 
closely invested, and retain a large number of warriors 
for our allies, I resolved to enter the city as far as possi- 
ble, and that the brigantines should afford us their sup- 
port on both sides of the causeway. I also directed that 
some of the horse and foot from the division at Cuyoacan 
should repair to the camp, that they might enter with us, 

* Now Tepayac, on the north side of the city, called by Bemal Diaz Tepeaquilla.- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 271 

and that ten horsemen should be left at the end of the 
causeway, as a support to our troops. But some of the 
allies left at Cuyoacan had rebelled and espoused the 
cause of the city, amongst whom were the inhabitants of 
the cities of Suchimilco, Culuacan, Iztapalapa, Chilo- 
busco, Mexicalcingo, Cuitaguacad, and Mizquique, all of 
which lie upon tiie lake. These seeking to attack us in 
the rear, I ordered ten or twelve horse to guard the cause- 
way, and as many more to remain at Cuyoacan, together 
with more than ten thousand of our allies. I also ordered 
the alguazil mayor and Pedro de Alvarado to attack the 
city from their posts at the same time, in order that I 
might gain as much as possible on my side. 

Having thus made my arrangements, I sallied forth in 
the morning from the camp, and marched on foot along 
the causeway towards the city. We soon found the 
enemy in defence of a breach that had been made in the 
road, as wide as the length of a lance, and of the same 
depth, where they had formed an entrenchment. Here 
an action ensued, in which valor was shown on both 
sides. At length we prevailed, and pursued our route 
along the causeway until we arrived at the entrance of 
the city, where stood a tower of idols, and near its base 
a very large bridge that was raised, under which a broad 
street of water* passed, defended by a strong entrench- 
ment. As soon as we reached this place, the enemy 
began to attack us ; but as the brigantines were on both 
sides the road, we carried the entrenchment without loss, 
which we could not have done unless aided by the bri- 
gantines. When the enemy began to abandon the 
ground, the people in the brigantines disembarked, and 
we passed over the water by means of them, together 

* Una calle de agua ; so Cortes terms the canals. 



272 LETTERS OF COKTES. 

with the allies from Tlascala, Guajocingo, Chalco, and 
Tesaico, in all more than eighty thousand men. While we 
were employed in filling up with stone and brick the breach 
made by the destruction of the bridge, the Spaniards gained 
another entrenchment on the principal and widest street 
in the whole city. As it contained no water, the entrench- 
ment was easily carried. They then pursued their route 
along the street until they arrived at another bridge, 
which the enemy had raised, excepting only one piece of 
timber, over which they passed. Having reached a place 
of safety, rendered secure by the intervention of water, 
they immediately took away the beam. On another part 
of the ground adjoining the bridge on the opposite side, 
the enemy had constructed another large entrenchment 
of clay and unburnt bricks. When we reached this spot, 
we were unable to cross without throwing ourselves into 
the water, and this was attended with great danger, as 
the inhabitants fought with resolute valor. On both sides 
of the street there was an immense multitude of them, 
who attacked us in a courageous manner from the ter- 
races ; but when a number of our archers and muske- 
teers arrived, and we discharged the two cannon so as 
to rake the street, we did them great mischief. As 
soon as this was known, several Spaniards threw them- 
selves into the water, and passed to the other side. Imme- 
diately the enemy, on seeing this movement, abandoned 
the entrenchment and the terraces, and fled through the 
street, so that all our force passed over. We were en- 
gaged more than two hours in carrying this entrenchment. 
I gave directions at once to fill up the space over which 
the bridge had passed, and to demolish the entrenchment ; 
and in the mean time, the Spaniards and our Indian al- 
lies pursued their way along the street, full two bow- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 273 

shots, when they came to another bridge, near a square 
occupied by some of the principal buildings in the city. 
This bridge had not been removed, nor had any en- 
trenchment been made upon it ; for the enemy had not 
imagined that we should gain that day any part of what 
had already fallen into our hands, nor had we ourselves 
expected to accomplish more than one-half as much. I 
placed a piece of ordnance at the entrance to this square, 
from which the enemy received much annoyance, al- 
though they were so thronged that none could be seen 
to fall. When the Spaniards discovered that there was 
no water there, from which danger was wont to arise, 
they resolved to enter the square ; and as soon as the 
enemy saw this determination carried into effect, and 
perceived the great multitudes of our allies, although 
without us they would have had no great fear of them, 
they turned their backs, and the Spaniards and our allies 
pursued them, until they took refuge within the enclo- 
sure of the temple, surrounded by a wall of stone and 
lime. This enclosure, as described in my former rela- 
tion, possesses an extent equal to a town containing four 
hundred families ; it was soon, however, abandoned by 
the enemy, and the Spaniards with our allies took pos- 
session of it, and remained for some within it, and in 
the towers. 

When the inhabitants saw that there was no cavalry 
with the party, they rallied and returned to attack the 
Spaniards, whom they forcibly expelled from the towers, 
the court, and the whole enclosure, placing them in cir- 
cumstances of great danger and difficulty ; and as they 
•continued to retreat, they took refuge under the gateways 
leading to the court. But the enemy annoyed them 
so much, that, abandoning this position, they retreated 



274 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

- -again into the public square, from whence they were 
driven with great violence into the street, so that they 
were obliged to leave behind the gun that was on the 
square. As the Spaniards could not sustain the attacks 
of the enemy, they continued to retreat, exposed to much 
danger ; to which, indeed, they would have fallen vic- 
tims, but that it pleased God three of the cavalry 
should arrive at this juncture and enter the square, which 
the enemy no sooner perceived than they believed more 
were coming, and began to fly. The Spaniards killed 
some of them, and regained possession of the court and 
enclosure that I have mentioned above. Ten or twelve 
of the principal inhabitants of the city took refuge in the 
largest and highest tower of the temple, having a hundred 
and more steps leading up to it, where they fortified 
themselves ; but four or five Spaniards forced their way 
up, and although the Mexicans defended themselves re- 
solutely, overpowered them, and destroyed the lives of 
the whole. Afterwards five or six more of the cavalry 
arrived, who with others formed an ambuscade, by 
means of which they despatched more than thirty of the 
enemy. As it was already evening, I ordered our peo- 
ple to be collected and to retreat ; and while they were 
retreating, the multitude of the enemy so pressed upon 
them, that had it not been for the cavalry the Spaniards 
would have suffered great loss. 

But as all the difficult places in the street and on the 
causeway, where danger was anticipated, had been 
filled up and levelled by me at the time of the retreat, 
the horse could now enter or depart over them with ease ; 
so that when the enemy assailed our rearguard, the 
cavalry returning charged upon them, continually des- 
troying and despatching them with their lances ; and as 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 275 

the street was very broad, there was room enough to 
perform this manoeuvre several times. Notwithstand- 
ing the enemy saw that they suffered by this means, the 
dogs rushed on in such a rabid manner that we could 
not stop them, nor would they desist from following us. 
The whole day would have been spent in this manner, 
had they not taken possession of several terraces that 
projected into the street, from which the cavalry were 
exposed to great annoyance ; and so we hastened through 
the street to our camp, without the loss of a single Spa- 
niard, although we had many wounded. In our retreat 
we set fire to the best houses on the street, that when 
we entered the city again, the enemy might not annoy 
us from the terraces. The same day the alguazil 
mayor and Pedro de Alvarado, at their respective sta- 
tions, encountered the enemy in a very gallant manner ; 
and at the time of the combats we were a league and a 
half from the one, and a league from the other. The po- 
pulation of the city, however, is of so great an extent, 
that it makes the distances seem less. The allies, who 
were with those leaders in immense numbers, fought 
well, and fell back that day without loss. 

In the mean time, Don Fernando, lord of the city of 
Tesaico and the Province of Aculuacan, of whom I have 
above made mention to your Majesty, had succeeded in 
drawing to our standard the people of his city and pro- 
vince, especially the most prominent persons, although 
they were not so decided in their friendship as they after- 
wards proved. Every day many caciques, and some of 
his own brothers, joined Don Fernando with the deter- 
mination to take sides with us, and oppose the Mexicans. 
As Don Fernando was a young man, and had a strong 
regard for the Spaniards, knowing that he had obtained 



276 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

his great seignory over others whose right of succession 
was superior to his own, by the favor of your Majesty, he 
labored to the utmost to induce all his subjects to engage 
in the war against the city, and share toil and danger with 
us. He conferred with his brothers, six or seven in num- 
ber, all well disposed young men, and begged them to 
come to my assistance with all the people of their dis- 
tricts. One of them, named Istrisuchil, twenty-three or 
four years of age, of great gallantry, and beloved and 
feared by all, he sent as a leader, who arrived in the 
camp of the causeway with more than thirty-thousand 
men, well equipped in their manner; and twenty 
thousand more joined the other two camps. I received 
them joyfully, thanking them for their good disposition 
and conduct. Your imperial Majesty may well consider 
whether it was not a desirable reinforcement, and sub- 
stantial proof of friendship on the part of Don Fernando, 
and imagine what the people of Temixtitan thought when 
they saw coming against them the people who were 
their vassals, friends, relations, brethren, and even fathers 
and sons.* 



* Don Fernando, lord of TezcHco, having been recently baptized, acted in' 
such a manner that neither the most fervent Christian, nor the most valiant cap- 
tain, could surpass him in honorable conduct ; and by these glorious deeds, and 
not by lies, the Indians should be judged. — L. 

M. Ternaux has published, in his valuable collection, a memoir written 
originally in the Mexican language by a descendant of the caciques of Tezcuco, 
in which the events of the conquest are briefly described. The Mexican name 
of the author is Ixtlilxochitl, which is probably the same written by Cortes in the 
text Istrisuchil. This memoir was published in the Spanish language at Mexico- 
in 1829, edited by Don Carlos Maria de Bustamante, who denounces the Tezcu- 
cans in unmeasured terms for their friendship to the Conqueror. Bustamante is 
of Indian descent, and distinguished for his literary attainments. There is a 
notice of him in that agreeable work, Mdme. Calderon's Life in Mexico, vol. ii^ 
pp. 123-4-5. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 277 

The combat in the city lasted two days, as I have above 
described ; and besides these succors, the inhabitants of 
the city of Suchimilco, situated on the lake, and certain 
villages of the Utumies, (Otomites,) a mountain race, 
more numerous than those of Suchimilco, and slaves of 
the lord of Temixtitan, came to offer themselves as vas- 
sals of your Majesty, begging me to pardon their dilato- 
riness. I received them well, and was much gratified 
by their arrival, as they were more likely than any others 
to make an impression on the people of Cuyoacan. 

As from the camp of the causeway where I was posted, 
we had by means of thebrigantines burned many houses 
in the suburbs of the city, and no canoe dared to make 
its appearance in that quarter, it seemed to me that seven 
brigantines would be sufficient for the security of our 
position, and I therefore determined to send three to the 
camp of the alguazil mayor, and the same number to that 
of Pedro de Alvarado. I gave particular instructions to 
the commanders of these brigantines, to run day and 
night from one camp to the other, some one way and 
some the other, since the enemy were in the habit of 
visiting the part of the main land in the vicinity of the 
two camps with their canoes, which they loaded with 
water, fruits, maize, and other suppfies ; and besides I 
directed them to aid the two divisions of the army sta- 
tioned at those places, whenever they should seek to 
enter the city for the purpose of provoking hostilities. 
Six brigantines accordingly departed to the two camps ; 
a necessary measure, that proved of great advantage, for 
every day and night they made incursions upon the 
enemy, and took many canoes and prisoners. 



36 



278 LETTERS OP CORTES. 



CHAPTER IV. 

When these measures had been taken, and the people 
already mentioned had come to our aid, desiring to be at 
peace with us, I addressed them all, and informed them 
that I had determined to enter and attack the city in two 
days from that time, when I desired them to come 
prepared for the war, and by this means I should know 
whether they were true allies. They promised to com- 
ply with my wishes. The next day I caused our force 
to be got ready and fully equipped, and wrote to the offi- 
cers in the other camps and the brigantines what I had 
resolved upon, and what it was incumbent on them to 
do. 

The next morning, after having heard mass, and given 
the captains their orders, I departed from our quarters 
with fifteen or twenty horse and three hundred Spanish 
infantry, accompanied by all our allies, an infinite host ; 
and taking my course along the causeway towards the 
city, when we had advanced three bow-shots beyond the 
camp we fell in with the enemy, who were expecting us 
with horrid cries. As no hostilities had taken place for 
three days before, they had in the mean time removed 
from the water whatever we had thrown in to fill up the 
breaches in the road, and rendered every thing stronger 
and more difficult to take than before. The brigantines 
came up on both sides of the causeway, and as they 
were able to approach quite near the enemy, they caused 
great destruction amongst them by their guns, musketrj'-, 



CONQUEST OP MEXICO. 279 

and crossbows. Seeing this, the men leaped out upon 
tlie ground and took possession of an entrenchment and 
bridge ; and we began to pass over in pursuit of the 
enemy, who immediately fortified themselves behind 
other bridges and entrenchments which they had thrown 
up ; these we succeeded in carrying, although with 
greater exertion and hazard than before, and we drove 
them from the whole street and the square containing the 
principal houses of the city. Here I ordered the Spa- 
nish troops to halt, while I went with our allies to close 
up with stone and sun-dried bricks the places where the 
water flowed across our route ; and although more than 
ten thousand Indians assisted in this work, it was not 
finished until the hour of vespers. During all this time 
the Spanish troops and our allies were engaged in fighting 
and skirmishing with the inhabitants, and laying snares 
for them, by means of which many perished. Taking 
the cavalry I scoured the streets of the city for a short 
time, driving the inhabitants with our lances from those 
parts where there was no water, and keeping them back 
so that they no longer dared to come upon dry land. 

Considering that the inhabitants of this city were 
rebels, and that they discovered so strong a determina- 
tion to defend themselves or perish, I inferred two things : 
first, that we should recover little or none of the wealth 
of which they had deprived us ; and second, that they had 
given us occasion and compelled us utterly to exterminate 
them. On this last consideration I dwelt with most 
feeling, and it weighed heavily upon my mind, leading 
me to think in what way I could strike them with dread 
so that they should come to a knowledge of their error, 
and of the calamities we should bring upon them ; with 
this view I continued to burn and demolish the towers of 



280 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

their idols and their houses. That they might become 
more sensible of their situation, I this day set fire to 
those noble edifices in the great square, where on the 
former occasion when they expelled us from the city 
the Spanish troops and myself were quartered. These 
buildings were so extensive that a prince with more than 
six hundred persons in his family and domestic retinue 
would have found ample space for their accommodation. 
There were others adjacent to these, which although 
somewhat smaller were more gay and elegant, and served 
Muteczuma for aviaries, in which he had every variety 
of birds known in that country. Although it grieved 
me much, yet as it grieved the enemy more, I determined 
to burn these palaces ; whereupon they manifested great 
sorrow, as well as their allies from the cities on the lake, 
because none of them had supposed we should be able 
to penetrate so far into the city. This struck them with 
terrible dismay. 

Having set fire to these buildings, as it was now eve- 
ning, I assembled our force to return to the camp ; and 
when the inhabitants saw that we were retreating, they 
pursued us in great numbers, and coming up in a furious 
manner, fell upon our rearguard. But the streets being 
throughout favorable for the movements of horses, the 
cavalry turned about to charge upon them, and pierced 
many of them with their lances ; yet they did not cease 
rushing upon our rear uttering loud cries. This day 
they showed some feeling and not a little dismay, espe- 
cially when they saw the people of Tezcuco, Chalco, 
Suchimilco, and the Otumies entering the city, burning 
and destroying it and fighting against them ; all of them 
calling out by name the province to which they belonged ; 
and in another quarter the Tlascallans, who, as well as 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 281 

the others, displayed to the inhabitants of the city the 
bodies of their countrymen cut into pieces, exclaiming 
at the same time that they would have them for supper 
that night and for breakfast the next day, as was in fact 
the case. Thus we returned to our camp to rest, for 
that day we had toiled much. The seven brigantines 
that I had retained entered the water-streets of the city 
on the same day and burned a considerable part of it. 
The captains of the other divisions of the army and 
the six brigantines also fought gallantly on that day. I 
might well enlarge upon their exploits, but to avoid 
prolixity I omit the account, only adding that they re- 
turned victoriously to their camps without suffering any 
loss. 

On the following day, at an early hour of the morning, 
after hearing mass, I returned to the city in the same 
order with my whole force, so that the enemy might not 
have time to open the breaches in the road, and throw up 
entrenchments ; but although we were early on the ground, 
of the three water-streets that crossed the road leading 
from the camp to the large houses on the square, two 
were in the same condition as on the previous days, and 
extremely difficult to be taken ; the combat lasted from 
eight o'clock till one in the afternoon, during which time 
all the arrows and balls carried by the archers and mus- 
keteers were exhausted. Your Majesty may well believe 
that the danger was very great to which we were ex- 
posed every time we gained these bridges, since in order to 
accomplish it the Spanish soldiers were obliged to throw 
themselves into the water and swim to the opposite side ; 
this could not be done, nor attempted by all, as the 
enemy stood ready to oppose their landing by slashing 
them with knives or thrusting lances at them. But as 



282 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

they no longer had terraces from which to annoy us on 
the opposite quarter, and we kept up a shower of arrows 
from our side, the distance apart being but the cast of a 
horse-shoe, the Spaniards early in the day took fresh cour- 
age, and determined to pass, especially when they saw 
that this was my determination likewise, and that, sink or 
swim, the thing must be effected. It will, perhaps, ap- 
pear to your Majesty that as we encountered so much 
peril in gaining these bridges and entrenchments, we 
were guilty of neglect in not retaining them after we had 
once succeeded in taking them, and thus avoiding the 
daily return anew to so much danger and toil, which were 
unquestionably great, as they must appear to those not 
present. But your Majesty should know that this was 
impossible, for in order to accomplish it two things were 
necessary — either that we should remove our camp to 
the great square containing the temples of the idols, or 
that our people should guard the bridges by night — both 
of which would be attended with great danger, and found 
to be impracticable. Should we encamp in the city, 
every night and every hour the enemy would surprise us 
with sudden attacks, and being themselves numerous, 
and we but few, the labor would be insupportable to re- 
sist them on all sides. Then as to guarding the bridges 
by night, the Spaniards are so fatigued by fighting through 
the day, that none of them are fit to perform guard-duty 
at night ; we were therefore compelled to retake them 
every day that we entered the city. 

On this day, as there was much delay in gaining the 
bridges, and in returning to fill up the water, there was 
no opportunity to do more than to take two other bridges 
on the other principal street leading to the city of Tacu- 
ba, which we filled up, and afterwards burned many 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 283 

good houses on that street. By this time it was evening, 
and the hour to return to camp, which was attended with 
httle less danger than taking the bridges ; for as soon as 
they saw us retire, the inhabitants recovered themselves 
to such a degree that it seemed as if they had been vic- 
torious, and that we were flying before them ; it was 
likewise necessary for our safe return, that the space oc- 
cupied by the bridges should be well filled up so as to be 
even with the street, that the cavalry might be able to 
move freely from one side to the other. Sometimes when 
thus returning to camp, and the enemy pursued us so 
ravenously, we would pretend to fly, and then turn about 
suddenly upon them, and take twelve or thirteen of the 
boldest of them prisoners. By these means, and the 
ambuscades we laid for them, into which they were con- 
stantly falHng, they always suffered ; and their conduct 
was certainly worthy of admiration, for however great 
the evils and losses to which they were exposed in ha- 
rassing our march, they did not relax their pursuit till 
they saw us out of the city. Thus we returned to our 
camp, when the captains of the other posts informed me 
that they had succeeded well the same day, and had de- 
stroyed many of the enemy by land and water ; and 
Pedro de Alvarado, in particular, who was stationed at 
Tacuba, wrote me that he had taken two or three bridges; 
but as he was on the causeway that leads from the mar- 
ket-place of Mexico to Tacuba, and the three brigantines 
I had given him could come up on one side so as to touch 
the causeway, he was not exposed to so much danger as 
on the previous days. In that quarter there were more 
bridges and a greater number of breaches in the cause- 
way, but fewer terraces, than in the others. 

During all this time the inhabitants of Iztapalapa, Oi- 



2S4 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

chilobuzco, Mexicacingo, Culuacan, Mizquique and Cui- 
taguaca, which, as I have mentioned, are situated on 
the fresh lake, had never come to desire peace with us, 
nor had we suffered any annoyance from them. But 
the people of Chalco were loyal vassals of your Majesty, 
and seeing that we were fully occupied with our opera- 
tions against the great city, they united with others who 
dwelt around the lakes, and did all the mischief in their 
power to the above mentioned towns on the water. 
These perceiving that every day we were victorious 
over the inhabitants of Temixtitan, and taking into con- 
sideration what they suffered and would suffer from our 
allies, resolved to come in ; they arrived at our camp, 
and begged me to pardon the past, and order the Chal- 
conians and their other neighbors not to injure them any 
more. I answered them that I was pleased with their 
coming, and had no unfriendly feelings towards any but 
the inhabitants of the city ; but in order to prove the 
sincerity of their professions, I requested them, as it was 
my determination not to remove my camp till by peace 
or war I had obtained possession of the city, and as they 
had many canoes that might afford me aid, that they 
would get ready as many as they could, with all their 
most warlike people, in order to come to our assistance 
hereafter. I also desired, as the Spaniards had only a 
few, mean huts, and it was now the season for heavy 
rains, that they would erect as many barracks as possi- 
ble at the camp, and bring in their canoes bricks and 
timber from the houses of the city that were nearest to 
us. They rephed that their canoes and warriors would 
be in readiness every day ; and in building the barracks, 
they worked with great diligence, and on both sides of 
the two towers of the causeway where I was encamped, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 285 

they erected so many, that it was a distance of more 
than three or four bowshots from the first to the last. 
Your Majesty will understand that the causeway leading 
over the deepest part of the lake was so wide, that these 
huts were built on either side of it, leaving a street in 
the middle along which we could come and go, on foot 
or horseback, at pleasure ; and there were constantly in 
the camp, including Spaniards and the Indians who 
waited on them, more than two thousand persons. All 
the rest of our division consisting of allies, were quar- 
tered at Cuyoacan, a league and a half from the camp. 
The people of those towns (above mentioned) also sup- 
plied us with some articles of food, (of which we had 
need enough,) especially fish and cherries ; the latter 
being so abundant that they are sufficient during the five 
or six months that they last for double the population of 
the country.* 

As we had now entered the city two or three days in 
succession from our camp, besides three or four former 
visits, and had always come off victorious, having with 
our guns, crossbows, and musketry destroyed a. host of 
people, we expected every hour that they would be in- 
duced to send us proposals of peace, which we desired 
as a means of safety ; but no progress was made by us 
in drawing them to this conclusion. In order to make 
the necessity of peace greater to them, and to see if I 
could constrain them to it, I resolved to enter the city 
every day and attack the inhabitants with the force I 

* According to Nuttall there are more native species of the plum and cherry 
in North America than any other part of the world. No modern botanist seems 
to have visited the central portions of Mexico ; some parts of California were 
explored by the late Mr. Douglas, of London, and by Mr. Nuttall from the Uni- 
ted States, who have greatly enriched the North American Flora by their inte- 
resting contributions irom that quarter. 

37 



286 LETTERS OF CORTES. ' 

carried, in three or four different places ; and I sum- 
moned to my aid all the people of the cities on the water 
in their canoes ; on the morning of that day I had in my 
camp more than one hundred thousand men of our allies. 
I ordered the four brigantines with half of the canoes, 
about fifteen hundred in number, to go to one quarter ; 
and the three others with the same number of canoes to 
go to another quarter ; and that they should direct their 
course so as to surround the city, set fire to it, and do 
all the mischief in their power. I made my entry by the 
principal street, which I found free from impediments 
as far as the great houses on the square ; none of the 
bridges were raised, and I passed into the street that 
leads to Tacuba, on which were six or seven bridges. 
From thence I caused a captain to enter by another 
street with sixty or seventy men, followed by six horse- 
men for security ; and with them went more than ten or 
twelve thousand Indians of our allies. I ordered ano- 
ther captain to do the same on another street ; and I 
with the people that were left followed on the street of 
Tacuba, and took three bridges, which were filled up. 
The other bridges I left for another time, because it was 
evening, and they could be better taken on a future oc- 
casion. I was very desirous of securing this noble 
street, in order that the force in the camp of Pedro de 
Alvarado might communicate with ours, and pass from 
one to the other ; and also that the brigantines should 
have a similar communication. On that day I was quite 
victorious both by land and water, and obtained consi- 
derable spoil from the city. The alguazil mayor and 
Pedro de Alvarado were also successful with their divi- 
sions. 

The following dajr I returned to the city in the same 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 287 

order as on the former days, and gave thanks to God for 
so great a victory, smce in the parts where we entered 
no resistance appeared to be made to us ; and the enemy 
retreated with such rapidity, that we seemed to have 
gained three fourths of the city ; and they also passed 
in great haste in the direction of the camp of Pedro de 
Alvarado. Both this day and the day before I was 
quite certain that they would sue for peace, for which I 
was always prepared, whether victorious or not. But 
notwithstanding, we never found any sign of peace on 
their part ; and that day we returned with great plea- 
sure to our camp, although it did not cease to oppress 
my mind to see the inhabitants of the city so determined 
on their fate. 

During the past days Pedro de Alvarado had taken 
several bridges, and in order to retain them he placed 
sentries of foot soldiers in the day time, and horsemen at 
night to guard them ; the rest of his force repaired to 
his camp, which was three-quarters of a league dis- 
tant. As this labor was insupportable, he resolved to 
remove his camp to the head of the causeway leading to 
the market-place of Temixtitan, which is a square some- 
what larger than that of Salamanca, and entirely sur- 
rounded by covered walks ; and in order to reach it, it 
was only necessary to gain two or three other bridges, 
which, however, were very wide and difficult to be taken, 
and kept him employed several days, during which he 
fought incessantly, though with success. On the day 
above mentioned, when he saw indications of weakness 
on the part of the enemy, and that in the quarter where I 
was I had been engaged in continued and vigorous as- 
saults, he was so much flushed with the heat of victory 
in gaining so many bridges and entrenchments, that he 



288 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

determined to pass over and take a bridge where more 
than sixty paces of the causeway had been broken up 
and filled with water to the depth of nine or ten feet. He 
carried his purpose into effect the same day, and aided 
by the brigantines, crossed the water and gained the 
bridge, pursuing the enemy, who took to flight. Pedro 
de Alvarado then hastened to close up the breach so that 
the cavalry could pass ; and also because I had cautioned 
him every day, both in writing and verbally, not to gain 
an inch of ground without rendering it perfectly safe for 
the horse to come and go, that they might join in the at- 
tacks. As soon as the inhabitants saw that only forty or 
fifty Spaniards and a few of our allies had crossed to that 
side, and that the horse were unable to get over, they 
turned upon them so suddenly that our people retreated 
and threw themselves into the water ; and three or four 
Spaniards were taken prisoners by the enemy, who im- 
mediately carried them to be sacrificed [in the temple] ; 
several of our allies were also slain. At last, Pedro de 
Alvarado made good his retreat to his camp. 

When on that day I returned to my quarters and heard 
what had happened, nothing in the world could have 
grieved me more ; because it was the means of giving 
fresh courage to the enemy, and leading them to believe 
that we should not dare to make another attempt to 
carry the city. The reason that Pedro Alvarado wished 
to take that ill-advised step was, as I have said, that he 
saw a large part of the Indian force already in his power, 
and that the rest gave indications of weakness ; but it 
was chiefly on account of the importunities of the people 
in his division, who urged him to capture the market- 
place, as if that was taken the whole city would be 
carried, and all the strength and expectations that the 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 289 

Indians possessed in it. Moreover, Alvarado's men ob- 
served that I was continually pursuing my attacks on 
the city, and would be likely to take the market-place 
before them ; and as they were nearer to it than we, 
they considered it a point of honor to be the first to reach 
it. For this reason Pedro de Alvarado was greatly im- 
portuned, and the same thing occurred to me in my 
camp ; for all the Spaniards earnestly solicited me to 
enter through one of three streets that led to the market- 
place, as we should meet with no resistance, and that 
being gained, we should have less trouble hereafter. I 
made every pretence in my power for not yielding to 
their wishes, but concealed the true cause ; which was 
on account of the obstacles and perils that presented 
themselves to my mind ; since on entering the market- 
place, there would be in our way innumerable terraces, 
bridges, and breaches in the causeways, so that every 
house that we should have to pass would be like an island 
in the midst of the water. 

As on that evening when I returned to camp I was 
informed of the defeat of Pedro de Alvarado, I deter- 
mined to go the next morning to his quarters and reprove 
him for what had occurred, and at the same time to see 
what he had gained, and where he had removed his 
camp, instructing him as to the measures necessary for 
his safety and the annoyance of the enemy. But on 
arriving at his camp, I was astonished to see how far he 
had advanced into the city, and the dangerous passes 
and bridges he had gained, and I no longer thought him 
deserving of as much censure as I had supposed ; so 
that having conversed with him respecting what remained 
to be done, I returned the same day to my own quarters. 

After this I effected several entries into the city at the 



290 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

usual points ; and while the brigantines and canoes made 
their attacks in two different quarters, I proceeded 
through the city j;o four others. We were always suc- 
cessful, and great numbers of the enemy were slain ; 
and besides, every day multitudes of people declared in 
our favor. I still delayed advancing my position more 
within the city — first, that the enemy might have an op- 
portunity to recede from their obstinate and implacable 
policy ; and secondly, because our entrance would be 
attended with great peril, as they were firmly united, 
full of courage, and resolved on death. But when the 
Spaniards saw so long a delay in this matter, more than 
twenty days having elapsed since they had been con- 
tinually engaged in combating the enemy, they impor- 
tuned me in the most earnest manner, as I have already 
stated, to enter the city and seize upon the market-place ; 
which being done, the enemy would have less room to 
act on the defensive, and if they did not surrender, they 
would perish with hunger and thirst, having nothing to 
drink but the salt water of the lake. When I made some 
excuse for not complying with their wishes, your Ma- 
jesty's Treasurer assured me that the whole camp de- 
clared it ought to be done. I answered him and other 
respectable persons who were there, that their design 
and request were worthy of approbation, and no one 
desired to effect the object more than myself; but that I 
declined attempting it for a reason which their importu- 
nity compelled me to avow, namely, that although he and 
the others would act worthily when surrounded by dan- 
ger, there were some who would not do so. At length, 
however, they compelled me to yield my consent to do 
whatever I could in this matter, after having concerted 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 291 

the plan of operations with the other divisions of the 
army. 

The next day I assembled several of the principal 
men in our camp, when we resolved to inform the algua- 
zil mayor and Pedro de Alvarado of our intention to 
enter the city on the following day, and if possible, to 
reach the market-place. I instructed them what it would 
be necessary for them to do on the side of Tacuba ; and 
besides writing this, that they might be still better in- 
formed, I sent two of my servants to acquaint them with 
the whole matter. The orders were, that the alguazil 
mayor should join the camp of Pedro de Alvarado with 
a force consisting of ten horse, one hundred Spanish 
infantry, and fifteen archers and musketeers ; that he 
should leave behind in his camp ten other horse, ar- 
ranging with them, that when the battle commenced the 
next day, they should place themselves in ambush behind 
some houses ; and that he should carry off all his bag- 
gage as if the camp was to be broken up, so that when 
the enemj'" from the city pursued them, the ambuscade 
might fall upon their rear. Likewise, that the alguazil 
mayor with his three brigantines, and Pedro de Alvarado 
with the three others, should gain possession of the great 
breach in the road where the latter was defeated, and 
hasten to fill it up ; that they should then advance, but 
by no means leave the spot or advance a single step be- 
fore the breach was filled, and the road placed in good 
order ; and, finally, if they could reach the market-place 
without much risk or danger, they should make every 
exertion to do so, and I would do the same. I added, 
that although I sent them these instructions, they must 
see I did not oblige them to take a single step that would 
be likely to lead to any repulse or disaster ; and this I 



292 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

added because I knew from the character of the men 
that they would face any difficulty in obedience to my 
orders, though they knew it would cost them their lives. 
Having despatched these two servants of mine with this 
message, they proceeded to the camp and found there 
the alguazil mayor and Pedro de Alvarado, to whom 
they communicated the whole plan as concerted in our 
own camp. As they would have to act against one 
quarter only of the city, while I had many different 
points to assail, I desired them to send me seventy or 
eighty infantry, to add to the force with which I should 
enter the city on the following day ; these troops accor- 
dingly came in company with my two servants the same 
night, and lodged in our camp. 

The next day after mass,* in pursuance of the arrange- 
ments already ment;joned,the seven brigantines with more 
than three thousand canoes of our allies left our encamp- 
ment ; and I with twenty-five horse and all the other 
force I had, including the seventy men from the division 
at Tacuba, took up the line of march and entered the 
city, where I distributed the troops in the following man- 
ner : there were three streets leading from where we 
entered to the market-place, called by the Indians Tian- 
guizco, and the whole square on which it is situated they 
call Tlaltelulco; one of these streets was the principal 
avenue to the market-place, which I ordered your Ma- 
jesty's treasurer and auditor to take, with seventy men 
and more than fifteen or twenty thousand of our allies ; 
the rearguard consisting of seven or eight horse. I also 

* Archbishop Lorenzana, in his note on this passage, greatly extols the pious 
fervor of Cortes, who, he says, " whether in the field or on the causeway, in the 
midst of the enemy or toiling by night or day," never omitted the celebration 
of the mass. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 293 

directed that whenever a bridge or entrenchment was 
taken, that it should be immediately filled up ; and for 
this purpose they had twelve men with pickaxes, together 
with many more of our allies who were very useful in 
this kind of work. The two other streets also lead from 
that of Tacuba to the market-place, and are narrower and 
full of causeways, bridges and water-streets, (or canals.) 
I ordered two captains* to take the widest of these, with 
eighty men and more than ten thousand of our Indian 
allies ; and at the head of the street of Tacuba I placed 
two heavy cannon with eight horse to guard them. With 
eight other horse and about one hundred foot, including 
twenty-five or more bowmen and musketeers, and an in- 
numerable host of our allies^ I took up the line of march 
alongthe other narrow street, intending to penetrate as far 
as possible. At its entrance I caused the cavalry to halt, 
and ordered them by no means to pass from there, nor to 
come in my rear, unless I first sent them orders to that 
effect ; and I then alighted from my horse, and we came 
to an entrenchment that had been raised in front of a 
bridge, which we carried by means of a small field- piece, 
and the archers and musketeers, and then proceeded 
along the causeway, which was broken in two or three 
places, where we encountered the enemy. So great was 
the number of our allies who ascended the terraces and 
other places, that it did not appear possible any -thing 
could stop us. When we had gained the two bridges, the 
entrenchments and causeway, our allies followed along 
the street without taking any spoil ; and 1 remained be- 
hind with about twenty Spanish soldiers on a small island, 
for I saw that some-of our Indians were getting into trou- 

* These were Andres de Tapia nnd George Alvarado. 

3'S 



294 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

ble with the enemy ; and in some instances they retreat- 
ed until they cast themselves into the water, and with 
our aid were enabled to return to the attack. Besides 
this, we were on the watch to prevent the enemy from 
sallying forth out of the cross-streets in the rear of the 
Spaniards who had advanced on the main street, and at 
this time sent us word that they had made much progress, 
and were not far from the great square of the market- 
place ; adding, that they wished to push forward, for they 
already heard the noise of the combat in which the algua- 
zil mayor and Pedro de Alvarado were engaged on their 
side of the city. I answered them, that they must by no 
means go forward without leaving the bridges well filled 
up, so that if it became necessary to beat a retreat, the 
water might present no obstacle or impediment, for in 
this consisted all the danger. They sent to me a mes- 
sage in reply, the amount of which was that the whole 
they had gained was left in good condition, and that I 
might go and see if it was not so. But suspecting that 
they had disregarded the orders, and left the bridges im- 
perfectly filled up, I went to the place and found they 
had passed a breach in the road ten or twelve paces 
wide ; and the water that flowed through it was ten or 
twelve feet deep. At the time the troops had passed this 
ditch, thus formed, they had thrown into it wood and 
reed-canes, and as they had crossed a few at a time and 
with great circumspection, the wood and canes had not 
sunk beneath their weight ; and they were so intoxicated 
with the pleasure of victory that they imagined it to be 
sufficiently firm. At the moment I reached this bridge 
of troubles, I discovered some Spaniards and many of 
our aUies flying back in great haste, and the enemy like 
dogs in pursuit of them ; and when I saw such a route, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 295 

I began to cry out, "Hold, hold!" and on approaching 
the water, I beheld it full of Spaniards and Indians, in so 
dense a mass that it seemed as if there was not room for 
a straw to float. The enemy charged on the fugitives so 
hotly, that in the melee they threw themselves into the 
water after them; and soon the enemy's canoes came up 
by means of the canal, and took the Spaniards alive. 

As this affair was so sudden, and I saw them killing 
our men, I resolved to remain there, and perish in the 
fight. The way in which I and those who were with 
me could do the most good, was to give our hands to 
some unfortunate Spaniards who were drowning, and 
draw them out of the water ; some came out wounded, 
others half-drowned, and others without arms, whom I 
sent forward. Already such multitudes of the enemy 
pressed upon us, that they had completely surrounded 
me and the twelve or fifteen men who were with me ; 
and being deeply interested in endeavoring to save those 
that were sinking, I did not observe nor regard the 
danger to which I was exposed. Several Indians of the 
enemy had already advanced to seize me, and would 
have borne me off, had it not been for a captain of fifty 
men whom I always had with me, and also a youth of 
his company, to whom next to God I owed my life ; and 
in saving mine like a valiant man, he lost his own.* In 
the mean time the Spaniards who had fled before the 
enemy, pursued their course along the causeway, and as 
it was small and narrow, and on the same level as the 
water, which had been effected by those dogs on purpose 

* Antonio de Quinones was the captain, and Francisco de Olea, the youth, 
according to Gomara ; who says that the latter cut off at one blow the arms of 
the men that had seized Cortes, and was himself immediately slain by the ene- 
my. Cortes was then rescued by Quinones. — Cron. Nuev. Esp. Cap. 138. 



iJ96 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

to annoy os ; and as the road was crowded also with 
our allies who had been routed, much delay was there- 
by occasioned, enabling the enemy to come up on both 
sides by water, and to take and destroy as many as 
they pleased. The captain who was with me, Antonio 
de Quiiiones, said to me, " Let us leave this place and 
save your life, since you know that without you none of 
us can escape ;" but he could not induce me to go. When 
he saw this, he seized me in his arms, that he might 
force me away ; and although I would have been better 
satisfied to die than live, yet by the importunity of this 
captain and of my other companions, we began to re- 
treat, making our way with our swords and bucklers 
against the enemy, who pressed hard upon us. At this 
moment there came up a servant of mine on horseback, 
and made a little room ; but presently he received a 
blow in his throat from a lance thrown from a low ter- 
race, that brought him to the ground. While I was in 
the midst of this conflict, sustaining the attacks of the 
enemy, and waiting for the crowd on the narrow cause- 
way to reach a place of safety, one of my servants 
brought me a horse to ride upon. But the mud on the 
causeway, occasioned by the coming and going of per- 
sons by water, was so deep that no one could stand, 
especially with the jostlings of the people against one 
another in their efforts to escape. 

I mounted the horse, but not to fight, as this was im- 
possible on horseback ; but if it had been practicabfe, I 
should have found on the little island, opposite the nar- 
row causeway, the eight horsemen I had left there, who 
were unable to do more than to effect their return j 
which, indeed, was so dangerous that two mares on 
which tWQ of my servants rode fell from the causeway 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 297 

into the water ; one of them was killed by the Indians, 
but the other was saved by some of the infantry. Ano- 
ther servant of mine, Cristobal de Guzman, rode a horse 
that they gave him at the little island to bring to me, on 
which I might make my escape ; but the enemy killed 
both him and the horse before he reached me ; his death 
spread sorrow through the whole camp, and even to this 
day his loss is still mourned by those who knew him. 
But after all our troubles, by the blessing of God, those 
of us who survived reached the street of Tacuba, which 
was very wide ; and collecting the people, I took my 
post with nine horsemen in the rearguard. The enemy 
pressed forward with all the pride of victory, as if re- 
solved that none should escape with life ; but falling 
back in the best manner I could, I sent word to the trea- 
surer and auditor to retreat to the public square in good 
order. I also sent similar orders to the two other captains 
who had entered the city by the street that led to the 
market-place, both of whom had fought gallantly, and 
carried many entrenchments and bridges, which they 
had caused to be well filled up, on account of which 
they were able to retire without loss. Before the re- 
treat of the treasurer and auditor some of the enemy 
threw in their way two or three heads of Christian men 
from the upper part of an entrenchment were they were 
fighting, but it was not known whether they were per- 
sons belonging to the camp of Pedro de Alvarado, or 
our own. All being assembled in the square, so large a 
multitude of the enemy charged upon us from every di- 
rection, that we had as much as we could do to keep 
them back ; and that too in places where, before this de- 
feat, the enemy would have fled before three horse and 
ten foot. Immediately after, in a lofty tower filled with 



298 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

their idols that stood near the square, they burned per- 
fumes and fumigated the air with certain gums pecuKar 
to this country, that greatly resemble anime ; which 
they offer to their idols in token of victory.* Although 
we endeavored to throw obstacles in the way of the ene- 
my, it was out of our power, as our people were hurry- 
ing back to the camp. 

In this defeat thirty-five or forty Spaniards, and more 
than a thousand of our Indian allies, were slain by the 
enemy, besides more than twenty Christians wounded, 
among whom was myself in the leg. We lost the small 
field-piece that we had taken with us, and many cross- 
bows, muskets, and other arms. Immediately after their 
victory, in order to strike terror into the alguazil mayor 
and Pedro de Alvarado, the enemy carried all the Spa- 
niards, both living and dead, whom they had taken, to 
the Tlatelulco, which is the market-place, and in some of 
the lofty towers that are situated there they sacrificed 
them naked, opening their breasts and taking out their 
hearts to offer them to the idols. This was seen by the 
Spaniards of Alvarado's division from where they were 
fighting, and from the whiteness of the naked bodies 
which they saw sacrificed they knew them to be Chris- 
tians ; but although they suffered great sorrow and dis- 
may at the sight, they effected a retreat to their camp 
after having fought gallantly that day, and carried their 
conquests almost to the market-place, which would have 
been taken, if God on account of our sins had not per- 
mitted so great a disaster. We returned to our camp, 
such was the grief we felt, somewhat earlier than had 

* Gum Copal is obtained from Mexico ; the name is also Mexican, originally 
copalli. Another gum is found there resembling the incense of Arabia. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 299 

been usual on other days ; and in addition to our other 
losses, we had been told that the brigantines had fallen 
into the hands of the enemy, who attacked them with 
their canoes in the rear ; but it pleased God, this was 
not true, although the brigantines and the canoes of our 
aUies had been seen in danger enough, and even a bri- 
gantine came near being lost, the captain and master of 
it being wounded, the former of whom died eight days 
afterwards. 

That day and the following night, the enemy made 
great rejoicings with horns and kettle-drums, appearing 
to be overwhelmed with joy ; and they opened all the 
streets and bridges as they were before, and in setting 
their fires and sentries at night, they came within two 
bow-shots of our camp ; but as we had returned discom- 
fited, wounded, and destitute of arms, there was need 
of rest and recruiting. In the mean time, the rulers 
of the city took occasion to send messengers to their 
subjects in many provinces, to say that they had gained 
a signal victory and destroyed many Christians, and 
that soon they would put an end to us, charging them by 
no means to make peace with us ; and the messengers 
carried with them as credentials two heads of horses 
that they had killed, and some others of Christians, 
which they displayed for the purpose of showing 
wherever it seemed advisable that there was more rea- 
son for the rebellious to persevere than before. But 
notwithstanding all this, as the enemy did not grow more 
presumptuous, nor sensible of our weakness, every day 
some Spaniards, on foot or horse, with many of our 
allies, made sallies into the city, though they were un- 
able to gain more than a few bridges in the next street 
before coming to the square. 



300 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Two days after the defeat, which was already known 
throughout the adjacent districts, some of the inhabitants 
of a place called Quarnaguacar, [Cuernavaca,] who were 
subject to the city, but had joined our allies, came to the 
camp and reported that the people of Marinalco, their 
neighbors, had done them much mischief and laid waste 
their country ; that they had now formed an alliance with 
the large province of Cuisco, and were about to wage a 
destructive war against them, on account of their having 
become subjects of your Majesty and allies of ours ; and 
that they intended after subduing them to march against 
us. Although so short a time had elapsed since our dis- 
aster, and we were in a situation rather to require succor 
than to give it, yet as they urged the matter with great 
importunity, I determined to go to their assistance ; and 
notwithstanding much opposition on the part of our 
people, who said that to send away from the camp any 
part of our force would be ruinous to ourselves, I des- 
patched in company with the people who had asked our 
aid eighty foot and ten horse, under the command of 
Andreas de Tapia, whom I particularly charged to do 
whatever would most promote the service of your Ma- 
jesty, and our own security, but, as he saw the necessi- 
tous condition in which we were placed, not to consume 
more than ten days in going and returning. He departed, 
and having reached a little village between Marinalco 
and Coadnoacad, he found the enemy expecting him. 
Being joined by the people of Coadnoacad, he com- 
menced the attack at once, and with such gallantry did 
our men acquit themselves, that they routed the enemy 
and pursued them until they took refuge in Marinalco. 
That town stands on a very lofty height, inaccessible to 
cavalry ; and on that account, after destroying whatever 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 301 

was on the plairi, the detachment retfifned to camp, 
having achieved a victory within the ten days. On the 
heights of Marinalco there are many springs of excellent 
water, and the place is cool and pleasant. 

While this captain was absent on the expedition for 
the relief of our allies, some of the Spanish troops, both 
infantry and cavalry, as I have already mentioned, to- 
gether with the allies, penetrated the city in a hostile 
manner as far as the great buildings on the square ; they 
were unable to pass beyondj because the enemy had 
opened the street of water at the entrance of the square, 
which is very deep and wide, and on the opposite side 
was a very large and strong entrenchment, where an 
action ensued, and continued till night separated them. 

A cacique of the province of Tascatecal, named Chi- 
chimecatle, whom I mentioned above as having brought 
the timber that was prepared in that province for the 
brigantines, had from the beginning of the siege resided 
with all his people in the camp of Pedro de Alvarado ; 
and seeing that since the defeat the Spaniards had not 
behaved with their accustomed spirit, he determined to 
enter the city without them, and attack the enemy. — 
Leaving four hundred archers of his own people at a dan- 
gerous passage of water in the road where a bridge had 
been destroyed, from which he had driven the enemy, 
(an event that had not before occurred without our aid,) 
he pressed forward with his men, who fought with great 
braveiy, uttering loud cries, and calling out the names of 
their province and lord. There were many wounded 
and killed on both sides j and the enemy believed that 
they would be able to capture the whole force ; for, as 
they retreated in unbroken orderj the Tlascalans pursued 
with great resolution, and the Mexicans exj)ectedto wreak 

39 



302 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

their vengeance upon them after they had crossed a 
water-pass, where the danger was always certain. But 
Chichimecatle, with a view to this emergency, had left 
the four hundred bowmen at this pass for his support ; 
and when in their retreat the Tlascalans reached this 
place, the enemy suddenly charged upon them, but they 
leaped into the water and with the aid of the bowmen 
escaped. The enemy returned to the city, astonished at 
the resistance they had met with^ and the boldness that 
Chichimecatle had shown. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 303 



CHAPTER V. 

Two days after the expedition against Marinalco, of 
which I have given your Majesty an account in the fore- 
going pages, there arrived at our camp ten Indians of the 
Otumies, who were slaves to the city, but having become 
subjects of your Majesty now every day assisted us in 
fighting. They brought us word that the caciques of the 
province of Matalcingo, their neighbors, had made war 
upon them and laid waste their country, having burned 
a town and carried off some of the inhabitants, being re- 
solved to destroy all in their power ; and that it was their 
intention to attack our camps, when the inhabitants 
of the city would sally forth and put an end to us. 
We gave the more credit to this account, because, for 
a few days past, every time we entered the city for a 
hostile purpose, we had encountered some of the people 
of the province of Matalcingo, concerning which we had 
little information except that it was extensive, and about 
twenty-two leagues from our quarters. In the complaint 
made to us against their neighbors by the Otumies, they 
gave us to understand that they wished us to send them 
succor ; and although they asked it at a very unfavorable 
time, yet trusting in God's aid, and in order to break 
somewhat the wings of the enemy, who every day threat- 
ened us with hostilities from that people, and manifested 
the expectations they had of assistance, which could 
come from no other quarter, I determined to despatch 
thither Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguazil mayor, with 



304 LiETTERS OF CORTES. 

eighteen horse and one hundred foot, and one bowman ; 
who accordingly departed with these troops and a party 
of the Otamies, our allies. God knows the danger which 
they encountered in this expedition, and also to which we 
who remained behind were exposed; but as it was the 
best policy for us to exhibit greater courage and resolu- 
tion than ever, and even to die in arms, we concealed our 
weakness as well from our allies as from the enemy ; and 
often, very often, have I heard the Spanish soldiers de- 
clare, that they only wished it would please God to spare 
their lives, and make them conquerors of the city, although 
they should derive no interest nor advantage from it ; 
from which it will be seen to what extremity we were 
reduced, and on what a slender chance we held our per- 
sons and lives. 

The alguazil mayor proceeded tha,t day to a town of 
the Otumies, on the frontiers of Marinalco, where he slept; 
and the next morning resumed his march, and arrived at 
an encampment of the Otumies, which he found deserted 
and partially burnt. Advancing to more level ground, 
he discovered a large body of the enemy near a stream, 
who had just set fire to another town; as soon as they 
saw him, they began to fly ; and on the road they took, 
our people found in their rear large quantities of maize and 
the roasted flesh of children, which they had for pro- 
visions, but abandoned as soon as they saw the Spaniards. 
Having passed a stream that flowed in front of the plain, 
the enemy began to hold up, when the alguazil mayor 
with his horsemen attacked and routed them ; in their 
fright they took the road to Matalcingo, which was about 
three leagues distant. The cavalry continued the pur- 
suit until they shut themselves up in the town, where 
they waited the coming of the Spanish infantry and our 



COI^QUEST OF MEXICO. 305 

allies, who were occupied in slaying those whom the 
cavalry had left behind. In this rout more than two 
thousand of the enemy perished. The infantry and allies, 
exceeding seventy thousand men, having reached the 
place where the cavalry had halted, began to advance 
towards the town, in which the enemy rallied, having 
placed their women, children and effects safe in a fortified 
place on a lofty height near at hand. But when our force 
rushed furiously upon them, they retreated to the fort 
which occupied a strong position on a steep and rough de- 
clivity. The town was burnt and plundered in a very 
short time, and as it was evening, the alguazil mayor was 
not desirous of attacking the fort, especially as the men 
were weary, having been fighting the whole day. The 
enemy spent all the night in shouting and making a con- 
stant din with horns and kettle drums. 

The next morning the alguazil mayor led the way up 
to the enemies' fort, though with the fear of encountering 
a formidable resistance ; but when they reached the 
place, none of the enemy were to be seen ; and some of 
our Indian allies came down from the summit of the hill 
and informed us that there was no one left, but all the 
enemy had gone away at early dawn. At the same time 
there were many people on the surrounding plains, but 
these were Otumies ; the cavalry believing them to be 
enemies, rode towards them and struck three or four 
with their lances ; and as the language of the Otumies 
is different from that of Culua, they were not understood 
until they threw down their arms and approached the 
Spaniards, and even then three or four of them were 
pierced with lances ; but they were well aware that it 
happened from their not being known. Contrary to the 
expectations of the enemy, the Spaniards permitted them 



306 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

to go to their other town, which was also hostile ; but 
when they saw so great a force had come against them, 
they sued for peace ; and the alguazil mayor addressed 
the cacique of that place, saying that he knew I would 
receive favorably all that came and offered themselves 
as subjects of your Majesty, although they were guilty ; 
and he asked him to go and advise the people of Matal- 
cingo to come to me, which he promised to do, and also 
to propose terms of peace to the people of Marinalco. 
The alguazil mayor, having been thus successful, re- 
turned to his camp. 

At that time whens ome of our troops were fighting 
in the city, the inhabitants sent to request our interpreter 
to come to them, as they were desirous of treating for 
peace ; which, however, it appeared they did not want 
except on the condition that we should entirely abandon 
the country. This they did that we might be induced 
to afford them some rest, and enable them to provide 
themselves with what they wanted ; although they 
seemed to be always ready for a contest whenever we 
gave them occasion. While they were thus parleying 
with our interpreter, and our men were at no great dis- 
tance from them, being separated by only a broken 
bridge, an old man of their number, in the sight of all, 
drew forth from a capacious wallet certain things which 
he eat, thereby giving us to understand that they were 
not in want, because our people had told them they 
would perish with hunger. Our allies then assured the 
Spaniards that their proposals for peace were all a pre- 
tence, and would have renewed hostilities ; but there was 
no more fighting that day, the leaders of the enemy de- 
siring to communicate with me. 

Four days after the return of the alguazil mayor from 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 807 

Matalcingo, the caciques of that province and Marinalco, 
and of the province of Cuiscon, which is large and of 
great importance, and whose people had also been re- 
bellious, entered our camp, and asked us to pardon the 
past, promising to be faithful hereafter, as they ac- 
cordingly were, and have continued to this day. 

While the alguazil mayor was engaged in his expedi- 
tion to Matalcingo, the inhabitants of the city resolved to 
sally forth by night, and attack the camp of Alvarado : 
and at early dawn they made the assault. As soon as 
the sentinels, both horse and foot, discovered them, they 
sounded the alarm, " to armsP'' and the troops that were 
on the spot rushed upon the enemy, who, when they saw 
the cavalry, threw themselves into the water, and in the 
mean time our troops came up and fought with them for 
three hours. But when we heard in our camp the report 
of the field-piece that was fired, we had some fear that 
our men would not be able to repulse the enemy ; and I 
therefore ordered an attack upon the city, in order to 
draw them off from the contest with Alvarado ; and as 
the Indians found the Spaniards in that quarter so re- 
solute, they determined to return to the city, where we 
made a descent the same day. 

At that time those of us who had been wounded in 
the defeat were recovered ; the ship of Juan Ponce de 
Leon had arrived at Villa Rica, after being driven from 
the continent or island of Florida ;* and the inhabitants 
of that city sent me some powder and cross-bows, of 
which we were in extreme want ; although, thanks to God, 
there was not left a single country in the whole land 
about us that had not declared in our favor. But seeing 
that the inhabitants of this city were so rebellious, and 

* The seone navigator discovered Fk>fida a few yeats bSfor-e, 



308 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

discovered greater signs of a determination to perish 
than any people ever had done before, I knew of no 
middle course to take with them in order to rid ourselves 
of so many dangers and hardships without utterly destroy- 
ing both them and their city, which was the most beau- 
tiful object in the world. It was in vain to tell them that 
we would never remove our camp, and that our brigan- 
tines would never cease to carry an the war by water ; 
or that we had reduced Matalcingo and Marinalco, and 
there were none left throughout the whole land, to succor 
them, nor any place from which they could obtain maize, 
meat, fruits, water, or any thing else for their support* 
The more we made these appeals to them, the less indi- 
cations they gave of weakness ; but, on the other hand, 
in fighting and all their stratagems for defence, we found 
them displaying greater spirit than ever. In this state 
of things, considering that it was now more than forty- 
five days since we had invested the place, I resolved tO' 
take means for our security, and to enable us to press 
the enemy more closely, namely, that as we gained the 
streets of the city, we should destroy all the houses on 
both sides ; so that we should not advance a step with- 
out leaving all level with the ground, and converting what 
was water into firm land, notwithstanding the delay that 
might ensue. For this purpose I assembled the lords 
and chiefs of our allies, and informed them of my de- 
termination, to the end that they might send a great 
number of their laborers with their coas, which are im- 
plements of wood, of which they make as much use as 
is made in Spain of the spade in digging. They an- 
swered, that they would do so very willingly, and that 
it was an excellent project, with which they were much 
pleased, for it seemed to them that it was a means by 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 309 

which the city could be completely destroyed, which 
they had all desired more than any thing in the world. 

Two or three days passed while we were concerting 
our plans ; and the inhabitants of the city were well 
aware that we were devising some scheme against them. 
They too, as it afterwards appeared, were preparing 
such means as they could for their defence, as we ima- 
gined at the time. Having settled with our allies to 
make the assault by land and water, the next morning 
after mass we took the road to the city ; and on arriving 
at the water-pass and entrenchment in the vicinity of 
the large buildings on the square, when about to com- 
mence hostilities, we were accosted by some of the peo- 
ple and desired to suspend hostilities, as they intended 
to sue for peace. I then directed the men to refrain 
from fighting, and calling to the enemy, said that the 
sovereign of the city should come and confer with me 
there, and issue an order for peace to be declared. After 
they assured me that some one had gone to call the ca- 
cique, I was detained more than an hour ; because in 
truth they had no desire for peace, and thus it turned 
out — for soon, while we were remaining inactive, they 
began to pour upon us a shower of arrows, darts, and 
stones. Directly on seeing this, I attacked the entrench- 
ment, which we carried ; and on entering the square,- 
we found it filled with large stones, rendering it difficult 
for the horses to pass, as they require firai ground for 
their movements in war. We found several streets thus 
obstructed with stones to embarrass the horses. From 
that day we had so filled up this street of water leading 
from the square that the Indians never afterwards re- 
opened it ; and henceforth we began by degrees to de- 
stroy the houses and to obstruct and close up what we had 
40 



310 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

gained of the ditches and canals. As that day we mus- 
tered more than one hundred and fifty thousand warriors 
a great deal was accomplished ; after which we returned 
to the camp. The brigantines and the canoes of our 
allies had also done much injury to the city, and now 
sought repose. 

The day following we entered the city in the same 
order, and penetrated as far as the enclosure and grand 
court of the temple, where the towers of the Indians 
are situated. I ordered the captains to employ their 
men in filling up the canals, and levelling the difiicult 
passes that we had gained ; some of our allies I directed 
to burn and destroy the houses, and others to engage the 
enemy in those quarters where we were accustomed to 
meet them, and the cavalry to take a position in the rear 
as a guard to the whole. I ascended the highest tower, 
that the Indians might know me, as I was sensible that 
it would disturb them much to see me in that place. 
From thence I animated our allies, and caused them to 
be relieved when it was necessary ; for as they were 
constantly engaged, sometimes the enemy would retreat 
and sometimes the allies ; in the latter case three or four 
of the cavalry came to their support, who gave them 
fresh ardor a,nd courage to return to the attack. 

In this manner we entered the city five or six days in 
succession ; and always in retreating placed our allies 
in front. Some of the infantry we posted in ambush in 
the houses, while we left the cavalry to bring up the 
rear. The order for a retreat was given so that all moved 
at once, in order to vacate the square. By this means 
and the ambuscades of the infantry, every evening we 
killed some with our lances. On one occasion seven or 
eight horse had remained behind in the square waiting 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 311 

for the enemy to sally forth, who not making their appear- 
ance, they pretended to retreat. The enemy from fear 
that they would turn about and charge upon them as 
usual, had taken refuge behind walls and on terraces in 
great numbers. And when the cavalry, now eight or 
nine in number, turned about to pursue them, a part of 
the enemy having succeeded in taking possession of the 
entrance to a street on high ground, our men were un- 
able to follow them as they fled along that street, but 
were compelled to resume their retreat. The enemy, 
elated with having forced us to retire, were seized with 
a sort of frenzy, but acted with such prudence -that they 
confined themselves to situations from which they could 
not be reached, while the cavalry suffered great annoy- 
ance from the troops posted behind walls, and were com- 
pelled to leave the ground with two horses wounded. 
This occurrence led me to order a strong ambuscade, as 
I shall hereafter relate to your Majesty. On that eve- 
ning we returned to our camp, after having well secured 
all that we had taken, while the enemy exulted in the 
belief that our retreat had been caused by fear. The 
same evening I sent a messenger to the alguazil mayor, 
directing him to come to our camp with fifteen horse 
from his own division and that of Pedro de Alvarado. 

The next morning the alguazil mayor arrived with 
fifteen horsemen, and I had with me twenty-five others 
from the division of Cuyoacan, making forty altogether. 
Ten of these I ordered to sally forth in the morning with 
our main force, and in connexion with the brigantines, to 
attack the enemy and demolish the houses of the city in 
the usual manner, to as great an extent as possible ; and 
I proposed to come up with the other thirty horse when 
it would be time for ihem to retire. I also directed them, 



312 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

that as soon as they knew as much of the city to have 
been destroyed as was possible in that time, to pursue 
the enemy by a quick movement until they took refuge 
in their entrenchments, and beyond the water-streets, 
where they should keep them till the hour for leaving the 
city. In the mean time, I would throw my party of 
thirty horse, without being observed, into an ambuscade 
m some of the large buildings near those on the square. 
The Spanish troops faithfully obeyed my directions ; and 
at oBe o'clock in the afternoon, I took the road to the city 
with thirty horse, and having reached it, I posted them 
in certain buildings, while I went myself and ascended to 
the top of a lofty tower in my usual manner. Some 
Spaniards who were there opened a tomb, and found in 
it the value of more than 1500 castellanos in articles of 
gold. When the hour had arrived for retiring from the 
city, I directed our people to fall back in the best order, 
and that as soon as they reached the square, the cavalry 
should show a disposition to attack the enemy, but with 
the appearance of not daring to do so. This demonstra- 
was made when the enemy had collected in great num- 
bers about the square and on it. The men in ambush 
were already impatient for the hour to arrive for their 
movement, being eager to acquit themselves well and 
weary of delay. I now joined them, as the Spanish foot 
and horse with our Indian allies, (to whom the ambush 
was known,) were retiring from the square, and the enemy 
were in full pursuit, shouting as if they had gained the 
greatest victory in the world. The nine horsemen made 
a feint of attacking them, and then hastily retired ; after 
they had repeated this at two different times, the enemy 
were thrown into such a fury that they rushed upon the 
horsemen, and pursued them until they had passed the 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 313 

entrance of the street where we were concealed in am- 
bush. As soon as we saw the Spaniards pass on beyond 
us, and heard the report of a musket, which had been 
agreed upon as a signal, we knew it was time to sally 
forth; and calling aloud " Seiior Santiago,^^ we fell rude- 
ly upon the enemy, and drove them towards the square, 
attacking them with lances, overthrowing and cutting off 
great numbers that fell into the hands of our allies, who 
joined in the pursuit. Thus, by means of this ambus- 
cade, more than fifteen hundred of the enemy were 
slain, all persons of distinguished rank and valor ; and 
that night our allies were well supplied for their sup- 
per, as they took the bodies of the slain and cut them 
up for food. Such was the consternation of the enemy 
on account of this unexpected rout, that they neither 
spoke nor shouted during the whole evening, nor dared 
to appear in any street or on any terrace that was not 
removed from danger. 

As it was almost night when we retreated, the enemy 
ordered certain slaves, as it afterwards appeared, to 
watch whether we actually retired or not ; and when 
some of them began to appear in one of the streets, ten 
or twelve horsemen attacked them, and pursued them so 
closely that not one escaped. The enemy were so much 
alarmed by this victory of ours that they never ven- 
tured again, during the whole war, to enter the square 
when we retired from it, although but a single horseman 
was left there ; nor did they dare to pursue an Indian or 
a footsoldier belonging to our force, from the apprehension 
of another ambush. The events of this day, and the 
victory God our Lord granted us, were the principal 
cause of the city being earher gained, the inhabitants 
having been struck with dismay, and our friends reani- 



314 LETTERS OF OORTES. 

mated ; so that we returned to our camp with the deter- 
mination of hastening the operations of the war, and not 
suffering a day to elapse without entering the city until 
the war was at an end. During that day our division 
met with no loss except that at the moment we left our 
ambush some horsemen came in collision, and one of 
them falling from his mare, the animal ran directly to the 
enemy, who let fly their arrows and wounded her so. 
badly, that disliking her reception she returned to us, and 
the same night died. Although this circumstance was a 
matter of regret, inasmuch as our life depended on our 
horses and mares ; yet it was less so than if the mare had 
died in the hands of the enemy, as we were led to ex- 
pect ; for if this had been the case, the enemy would 
have derived from it more joy than they had experienced 
grief from our success against them. The brigantines 
and the canoes of our allies had committed great ravages 
in the city on that day without having suffered any loss. 
We had already known that the Indians of the city 
were much disheartened, and we now learned from the 
report of two inconsiderable persons who came out to 
our camp by night, that the people were perishing with 
hunger ; and that they employed the night in fishing 
amongst the houses of the city, and in seeking in the 
quarter we had captured for wood, and for herbs and 
roots to eat. As we had filled up many of the canals, 
and removed numerous other obstacles to our progress, I 
resolved to enter the city at early dawn, and do all the 
injury I could. The brigantines also sallied forth before 
daylight, while I with twelve or fifteen horse, a body of 
foot, and our allies, entered hastily, and stationed several 
scouts, who, when it was light and we were concealed in 
ambush, gave a signal, at which we rushed forth, and 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 31§" 

attacked an immense multitude of the enemy. But 
they consisted of a miserable class of people, who had 
gone out to seek for food, most of them unarmed, and 
women and children, of whom more than eight hundred 
were either killed or made prisoners in our route through 
that quarter of the city. The brigantines also took many 
prisoners, as well as canoes that were engaged in fish- 
ing, and committed great ravages upon the enemy. 
When the captains and principal persons of the city saw 
us making our usual progress through it, they had been 
so much struck with terror by the former ambush, that 
none dared to attack us ; and so we returned to the camp 
with much spoil and food for our allies. 

The next morning we returned to the city ; and as our 
allies had seen the order and regularity with which we 
proceeded in destroying it, the multitude that accompa- 
nied us was innumerable. This day we at length ob- 
tained possession of the whole street of Tacuba, and re- 
paired all the breaches in it, so that the division of Pedro 
de i^lvarado could communicate with us by the city ; and 
two other bridges were gained by the principal street 
leading to the market place. The water was filled up, and 
the palace of the cacique of the city burnt. He was a 
young man of eighteen years of age, named Guatimucin, 
who was the second since the death of Muteczuma. In 
these buildings the Indians had fortified themselves, as 
they were large, strong, and surrounded by water. We 
also gained two other bridges on other streets, that were 
adjacent to that leading to the market place, and filled up 
many ditches, so that three of the four quarters of the city 
were now in our possession, and the Indians could only 
retreat to the strongest, which comprised the houses most 
enclosed by water. 



316 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

The following day, which was that of the Apostle St. 
James, [July 25th,] we entered the city in the usual or- 
der and passed along the great street to the market- 
place. We succeeded in gaining a very broad street of 
water, which the enemy had considered perfectly secure ; 
it detained us a long time, and was of a dangerous cha- 
racter ; so that we were unable in all this day to fill it 
up, and make it passable for the cavalry. As we were 
all on foot, and the Indians sav/ that the horse had not 
passed over, they made a fresh attack upon us, many of 
them discovering great bravery ; but we resisted them 
successfully, and they returned to their entrenchments 
and fortified places, though many of them were wounded 
with arrows. The Spanish foot were also armed with 
pikes, which I had ordered to be made after the great 
defeat and found to be highly useful. On this day no- 
thing was heard on either side of the principal street but 
the burning and demolition of houses, which it was pain- 
ful to behold ; but our purposes required it, and it was 
necessary to proceed in this way. When the inhabitants 
saw such havoc going on in order to compel them to sub- 
mission, they told our allies, who were actively engaged 
in burning and destroying, that they would have the labor 
of rebuilding ; for if they (the Mexicans) prevailed, they 
knew it would be so ; and if not, they would have to 
build them for us. It pleased God that the truth of the 
last declaration should be confirmed, for they proved to 
be the persons employed to rebuild the city. 

At an early hour the next morning we entered the city 
in the usual manner, and having reached the passage of 
water which we had commenced filling up the day before, 
we found it in the same state in which it had been left. 
We proceeded two bowshots, and gained possession of 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 317 

two large ditches, that had been excavated in the solid 
earth of the same street ; we then went to a small tower 
of idols, in which we found several heads of Christians, 
being those of our men whom they had killed ; a spec- 
tacle that excited in us the deepest sorrow. From this 
tower, the street led directly to the causeway of Sando- 
val's camp ; and on the left hand, another street ran to 
the market place, in which there was no water except a 
single ditch that they defended. We proceeded no farther 
that day, but fought much with the Indians. As God our 
Lord always granted us victory, the enemy as constantly 
felt our superiority. As soon as it was evening, we re- 
turned to our camp. 

As we were getting ready the next day for returning 
to the city at nine o'clock, we saw from our camp a smoke 
issuing from two very lofty towers that stood in the Tlate- 
bulco, or market-place of the city, and were unable to 
imagine what it could be ; as it seemed much greater 
than the fumigations the Indians are accustomed to make 
to their idols, we conjectured that the division of Pedro 
de Alvarado had arrived there, but although this was 
really the case, we could not bring ourselves to credit it. 
Most certainly on that day Pedro de Alvarado and his 
party conducted in a very gallant manner, for there were 
many bridges and entrenchments to be carried, and the 
greater part of the city always aided in defending them. 
But when he saw that we had gone on straitening the 
enemy from our quarter, he labored to the utmost of his 
ability to enter the market-place, since the chief strength 
of the enemy was concentrated at that point ; he was 
not able, however, to do more than penetrate within sight 
of it, and take those towers, and several others adjacent 
to the market-place, which itself is as broad as the en-» 

41 




318 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

closed courts of many towers of the city. Finding his 
cavalry unable to make much progress, he was compel- 
led to retire, and in his retreat he had three horses wound- 
ed. Thus Pedro de Alvarado and his men returned to 
their quarters. We made no attempt that day to gain 
the single bridge and canal, which were all that remained 
between us and the market-place, but spent the time in 
levelling and filling up all the difficult places ; when we 
retired, the enemy pressed us closely, but it was done at 
their own .cost. 

The next morning early we entered the city, and as 
there was nothing to be gained before arriving at the mar- 
ket-place but a passage of water with its entrenchment, 
near the little tower I have mentioned, we began the con- 
test, when an ensign with two or three Spaniards leapt 
into the water, and the enemy immediately abandoned 
the place. We commenced fiUing up at once, and mak- 
ing preparations so as to cross with the horses.; and while 
thus engaged, Pedro de Alvarado arrived by the same 
street with four horsemen, and great was the joy on the 
part of his division and our own ; for the road was now 
open to a speedy termination of the war. Pedro de Al- 
varado had left in his rear a detachment of men both to 
secure what had been gained and for his own protection ; 
and as soon as the passage was rendered fordable, I pro- 
ceeded with several horse to look at the market-place, 
having first directed the people of our party not to ad- 
vance beyond this passage. We then went on and pass- 
ed through the square, admiring its arcades, the terraces 
of which were filled with the enemy, who, when they 
saw the horsemen riding in it, (as it is of great extent,) 
were afraid to approach us. I ascended a tower ad- 
joining the market-place, in which and others we found 
as offerings to their idols the heads of our Christians who 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 319 

had been killed, and of the Tlascallan Indians, our allies, 
between whom and the Mexicans a very old: and deadly 
feud existed. From that tower I surveyed the portions 
of the city that had fallen into our hands, comprising 
without doubt seven eighths of the whole ;^ and seeing 
that it was not possible for so many people to subsist in 
such a narrow space, especially as the houses that re- 
mained to them were small, and every one placed by it- 
self on the water;' and above all, considering the great 
famine that prevailed amongst tliem of which the half- 
eaten roots and bark of trees that we found in the streets 
afforded ample proof;' I determiBied to discontinue hos- 
tilities for some days, and to offer some conditions by 
which so great a multitude might be saved from destruc- 
tion ; and as it certainly occasioned me much sorrow and 
regret to continue to harass them, I constantly urged 
them to make terms of peace. But they declared that 
they would not by any means accept them, and that 
the only thing left for them w^as to die with arms in theif 
hands ; that we should have nothing of all they possessed, 
but they would burn and sink in the water every thing 
they had, whence it should never reappear. Thereupon, 
not being disposed to render evil for evil>, I dissembled 
my feelings by forbearing to attack them. 

As we had but little powder left, we had been' plan- 
ning for more than fifteen days the construction of a 
battering engine ; and though I had no mechanics who 
knew how to make one, some carpenters- undertook to 
construct a small machine, which I had no idea we 
should be able to use. In the course of a few days, 
during which we held the Indians in straitened quarters, 
we completed it, and brought it to be placed in the 
square of the market, on a building resembling a theatre, 



320 LETTERS OF CORTES, 

which is in the centre of the square, made of stone and 
mortar, about fifteen feet in height and thirty paces from 
angle to angle. This structure is intended to be used at 
their festivals and sports, so that the actors on those oc- 
casions being placed upon it may be easily seen by all 
the people in the market-place, both above and below 
the arcades. When the machine was brought there, a 
delay of several days took place in adapting it to its 
situation, during which time our Indian allies threatened 
the inhabitants that by means of it we should destroy 
them all. Had no other effect been produced by this 
engine but to alarm the people, which we hoped would 
have led to a surrender, it would have been sufficient ; 
but no such result flowed from it, for neither the carpen- 
ters completed their design, nor were the enemy, although 
they feared it, induced to make any proposals of sub- 
mission, and we concealed from them the defects of the 
machine by pretending that out of compassion towards 
them we forbore to use it for their destruction. 

The day after depositing the battering engine in the 
market-place, on entering the city, as three or four days 
had elapsed since the cessation of hostilities, we found 
the streets through which we passed filled with women, 
children, and other wretched objects, dying of hunger, 
and wandering about with distressed and haggard looks, 
presenting the most melancholy spectacle in the world ; 
and 1 ordered our allies to do them no harm. But none 
of the warriors made their appearance where it was 
possible for them to receive any injury, though we saw 
them on the terraces, covered with the mantles they are 
accustomed to wear, and without arms. I sent them 
this day proposals of peace, but their answers were de- 
ceptive ; and as they had wasted the greater part of the 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 321 

day in this business, I informed them that it was my in- 
tention to attack them, and desired that they would cause 
their people to retire, otherwise I should give our allies 
leave to destroy them. They replied, that they desired 
peace ; to which I rejoined that I did not see amongst 
them the cacique with whom I was to treat, but if he 
would come I would give every pledge for his safety, 
and treat of peace. When we discovered that it was 
all a trick, and that they were prepared to fight us, after 
having many times warned them that I would bring them 
into closer quarters, and reduce them to severer necessi- 
ties, I ordered Pedro de Alvarado to enter with all his 
force into one part of an extensive quarter of the city 
still occupied by the enemy, in which there were more 
than a thousand houses ; and I entered another part of 
it on foot with my own men, because we were unable to 
approach it on horseback. The battle was so fiercely 
fought, both by us and our allies, that we gained posses- 
sion of the whole district ; and so great was the mortality 
amongst our enemies, that the number killed and made 
prisoners exceed twelve thousand souls. Our allies prac- 
tised such cruelty towards the enemy, that they spared 
the lives of none, although greatly reproved and punished 
by us for their want of humanity. 

Returning to the city the following day, I ordered hos- 
tilities to be suspended, and the enemy left undisturbed. 
When their leaders saw so great a multitude arrayed 
against them, and knew they had assembled for the pur- 
pose of destroying the citizens and those whom they 
were accustomed to command ; when they beheld the 
extreme necessities of their people, and that they had 
no resting place but on the dead bodies of their country- 
men ; being desirous of avoiding so great a calamity, 



322 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

they addressed our people and said, that as we had not 
yet put an end to them they wished me to be called in 
great haste, for they desired to confer with me. As all 
the Spaniards desired this war to be brought to a con- 
clusion, and deplored the unhappy effects attending it, 
they were much pleased with this announcement, think- 
ing that the Indians sought peace ; and. they came to 
call and importune me to go to a certain entrenchment, 
where were some of the leaders of the enemy who 
wished to confer with me. Although I was aware that 
my going would have little effect, I was determined to 
go as desired, being at the same time sensible that the 
refusal to surrender rested solely with the cacique and 
three or four nobles of the city, for the rest of the people, 
living or dead, had already desired a deliverance. When 
arrived at the entrenchment, they said to me : " That 
since they regarded me as the offspring of the sun, and 
the sun in so short a space of time as one day and one 
night revolved around the whole world, I ought there- 
fore to despatch them out of life in as brief a space as 
possible, and thus deliver them from their troubles ; for 
they desired to die and go to Heaven to their Orchilobus, 
who was waiting to receive them into a state of peaceful 
repose." This is the idol for which they entertain the 
highest veneration. I answered in terms designed to in- 
duce them to surrender, but without effect, although they 
saw in us more indications and signs of peace than were 
ever shown to a conquered people before, we with the 
aid of our Lord being conquerors. 

The enemy being reduced to the last extremity, as 
may be inferred from what is above related, in order to 
shake their resolution, as they seemed bent on death, I 
conferred with a personage of high rank amongst them 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 328 

who was a prisoner, having been taken two or three days 
before by an uncle of Don Fernando, lord of Tezcuco, 
while fighting in the city, and severely wounded ; and I 
asked him if he wished to return to the city ? he an- 
swered, yes ; and when the next day we entered it, I 
sent him with some Spaniards who would deliver him 
to the inhabitants. With this person of rank I conferred 
much, in order that he might address the cacique and 
other important personages on the subject of peace ; and 
he promised me that he would do every thing in his 
power. He was received by the inhabitants with great 
respect as a person of high standing ; but when he was 
taken before Guautimucin, his lord, and began to address 
him on the subject of peace, he immediately ordered him 
to be slain and sacrificed. The answer we were ex- 
pecting was given by them in loud cries, vociferating 
that *' death was all they wished ;" when they began to 
assail us with a shower of darts, arrows and stones, and 
to fight furiously, so much so that they killed one of our 
horses with a dalle that a man carried, made of one of 
our swords ; but in the end it cost them dear, for many 
of them fell. After this we returned to our camp. 

The next day we returned to the city ; but the enemy 
were so much reduced that great numbers of our 
allies had ventured to pass the night there. When arrived 
in sight of the enemy, we no longer sought to contend with 
them, but went deliberately through the city ; for we 
expected every hour and every moment that they would 
come to us with offers of peace. In order to lead them 
to this step, I rode to an entrenchment of theirs, which 
was very strong, and called to certain chiefs who were 
behind it, whom I knew, and said — " Since they saw 
themselves in a desperate situation, and knew that if I 



324 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

pleased in one hour none of them would be left alive, why 
would not Guautimucin, their lord, come to confer with 
me, on my promising not to injure him; for should he 
and they seek peace, they would be well received and 
treated by me." I exchanged other words with them, 
and even drew tears from their eyes, when they answer- 
ed — " That they were fully conscious of their error and 
hopeless condition, and they would go to speak with their 
lord, and return instantly with an answer ; and requested 
me to remain where I was." They went away, but came 
back in a few moments, and said — " That as it was now 
evening, their lord had not come to confer with me ; but 
that in the middle of the next day he would come at all 
events, and confer with me in the square of the market- 
place ;" so we returned to our camp. I gave directions 
for the next day that they should get ready a carpeted 
seat, as is their custom, on the rectangular building in the 
middle of the square for the cacique and the chief men 
of the city, and that a repast should be prepared, as was 
accordingly done. 

The next morning we went to the city, and I cautioned 
our people to be on their guard, in case the inhabitants 
should be guilty of any treachery, that we might not be 
taken by surprise. I also gave the same caution to Pedro 
de Alvarado, who was there ; and when we reached the 
market-place, I sent a message to Guautimucin, inform- 
ing him that I waited his coming. It appeared, however, 
that he had determined not to come, but sent to me five 
of the principal nobles of the city, whose names I omit 
to mention as a matter of no great consequence. These 
persons having arrived said, "that their lord had sent 
them to beg me to pardon him for not coming, as he was 
afraid to appear before me, and also was in bad health ; 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 325 

but that he had deputed others, who would perform what- 
ever I should command. We were gratified by the ap- 
pearance of these nobles, although the cacique himself did 
not appear ; for the road seemed now open to a speedy 
conclusion of difficulties in this whole affair. I received 
them with a cheerful countenance, and immediately or- 
dered them to be served with something to eat and drink, 
when they exhibited proofs of the want arid privation they 
had endured. After they had finished their repast, I bade 
them tell their sovereign that there was no occasion for 
his fears, and that I would promise before he came into 
my presence to do him no injury, nor detain him ; but 
that without him nothing could be effected with perfect 
agreement and good understanding. I directed provi- 
sions to be given them to take to their lord ; and they pro- 
mised to do every thing in their power to promote the ob- 
ject in view ; and so they departed. In two hours they 
returned, bringing me some fine mantles of cotton, 
such as they wore, and informed me that Guautimucin, 
their lord, would by no means come, nor did he desire 
to do so, but wished to be excused from conferring on' 
the subject in question. I then repeated to them, that I 
knew no cause why he should fear to come before me, 
when he saw that I treated well the persons who to my 
knowledge had been thechief promoters of the war, whom 
I sufiTered to go and come in safety without receiving 
the slightest harm ; and I begged them to return and' 
urge him much to make his appearance, as it would be 
for his interest, and I would render it of great advantage 
to him. They consented to do so, and promised to re- 
turn the next day with his answer. So they went away, 
and we returned to our camp. 

Early the next morning some nobles visited our camp, 
42 



826 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

and desired me to go to the square of the market-place 
in the city, for their lord wished to confer with me there. 
Supposing it to be true, I mounted a horse, and we took 
the road to the city ; but after waiting more than three or 
four hours at the appointed place, he failed to appear. 
As soon as I perceived the deception, and that neither 
the lord nor any other messengers came, I sent for our 
Indian allies who had remained at the entrance of the 
city, about a league from where we were, agreeably to 
my orders, being informed that the inhabitants desired to 
treat with me for peace, and I should not want them within 
the city ; they came to me immediately, together with the 
troops of Pedro de Alvarado's camp. As soon as these 
troops arrived, we attacked some entrenchments- and 
ditches, the only defences that remained in the enemy's 
power ; and both we and our allies took possession of 
as many of them as we wished. At the time I left the 
camp, 1 had made arrangements for Gonzalo de Sando- 
val to enter with the brigantines that part of the city where 
the Indians were strongly fortified, and when the enemy 
were surrounded, to delay the attack until he saw our divi- 
sion engaged ; so that being thus closely invested and pres- 
sed on every side, they might have no space left for them 
to move, except over dead bodies, and on the terraces that 
remained to them ; being for the same reason destitute of 
arrows, darts and stones with which to annoy us. Our allies 
marched with us, armed with sword and buckler ; and 
such was the havoc made, both by land and sea, that 
more than forty thousand souls perished or were made 
prisoners that day ; and so piercing were the cries and 
lamentations of women and children that every heart wa^ 
moved, and we had even more to do to restrain our allies 
from the slaughter and the practice of excessive cruelty, 
than to fight the enemy ; the people orthis country being 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 327 

addicted to a cruelty exceeding what had ever been 
known in any generation, and violating in a greater' de- 
gree the laws of nature and humanity. Our allies took 
this day an immense quantity of spoil, which we could 
in no wise prevent, for we were but nine hundred Span- 
iards, while they amounted to more than one hundred 
and fifty thousand men, and no care or attention on our 
part sufficed to prevent them from plundering, although 
we did all in our power. One reason why I had been 
desirous on previous days to effect an arrangement with 
the inhabitants, was, that they might not throw their trea- 
sure into the water, and thus lead our allies to commit 
depredations on whatever they could find ; as I feared 
that by this means your Majesty would gain but a small 
portion of the great wealth contained in this city ac- 
cording to my previous representations. It being now 
late in the day, and the pestilential odor of the dead bodies 
becoming insupportable, from their having lain about the 
streets for several days, we returned to our camp. The 
same evening I planned that on our return to the city the 
next day, we should take with us three pieces of ordnance, 
as I feared that the enemy being crowded into so narrow 
quarters, and having no room to move, would endeavor 
to drown the Spaniards without striking a blow, when 
they sought to carry their defences by storm ; and on this 
account I proposed to annoy them with the guns from a 
distance, whenever they should sally forth against us. I 
also ordered the alguazil mayor to be in readiness with 
the brigantines on the following day to enter a large basin 
which was situated amongst the houses of the city, where 
all their canoes were collected ; and as so few houses 
remained to the enemy, in which the lord of the city 
could take refuge, it might happen that he would embark 



328 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

in a canoe with some of his nobles, without knowing what 
course to take. We thus made our arrangements for en- 
tering the city on the following morning. 

As soon as it was day, I caused our whole force to be 
in readiness, and the heayy guns to be brought out ; and 
the day before I had ordered Pedro de Alvarado to wait 
for rne in the square of the market-place, and not to at- 
tack the enemy until I arrived. Being all assembled, 
and the brigantines drawn yp ready for action on the 
right of the houses situated on the water, where the 
enemy were stationed, I directed that when they heard 
the discharge of a musket the land force should enter 
the small part of the city ,that remained to be taken and 
drive the enemy towards the water where the brigan- 
tines lay ; and I enjoined much upon them to look for 
Guautimucin, and endeavor to take him alive, as in that 
case the war would cease. I then ascended a terrace, 
and before the combat began addressed some of the 
nobles whom I knew, asking them " for what reason their 
lord refused to corne to me, when they were reduced to 
such extremities?" adding, "that there was no good 
cause why they should all perish, and that they should 
go and call hinj, and haye no fears." Two of the prin- 
cipal nobles then went to call their lord. After a short time 
there returned with them one of the most considerable 
of all these personages, named Ciguacoacin, a captain 
and governor over theni all, by whose counsels the whole 
affairs of the war were condncted ; and I received him 
with great kindness, that he might feel perfectly secure 
and free from apprehensions. At last he said, " that the 
cacique would by no means come into my presence, pre- 
ferring rather to die ; and that his determination grieved 
him much, but that I must do whatever I desired 5" and 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 329 

when I saw that this was his settled purpose, I told the 
noble messenger to return to his friends, and prepare for 
the renewal of the war, which I was resolved to continue 
until their destruction was complete. So he departed. 

More than five hours had been spent in these confe- 
rences, during which time many of the inhabitants were 
crowded together upon piles of the dead, some were on 
the water, and others were seen swimming about, or 
drowning in the part of the lake where the canoes were 
lying, which was of considerable extent. Indeed, so 
excessive were the sufferings of the people, that no one 
could imagine how they were able to sustain them ; 
and an immense multitude of men, women and children 
were compelled to seek refuge with us ; many of whom 
in their eagerness to reach us threw themselves into the 
water, and were drowned amongst the mass of dead 
bodies. It appeared that the number of persons who 
had perished, either from drinking salt water, from fa- 
mine or pestilence, amounted altogether to more than 
fifty thousand souls. In order to conceal their necessi- 
tous condition from our knowledge, the bodies of the 
dead were not thrown into the water, lest the brigan tines 
should come in contact with them ; nor were they taken 
away from the places where they had died, lest we should 
see them about the city. But in those streets where they 
had perished, we found heaps of dead bodies so frequent 
that a person passing could not avoid stepping on them ; 
and when the people of the city flocked towards us, I 
caused Spaniards to be stationed through all the streets 
to prevent our allies from destroying the wretched per- 
sons who came out in such multitudes. I also charged 
the captains of our allies to forbid, by all means in their 
power, the slaughter of these fugitives ; yet all my pre- 



330 LETTERS OF COKTES. 

cautions were insufficient to prevent it, and that day 
more than fifteen thousand lost their fives. At the same 
time the better classes and the warriors of the city were 
pent up within narrow limits, confined to a few terraces 
and houses, or sought refuge on the water, but no con- 
cealment prevented our seeing their miserable condition 
and weakness with sufficient clearness. As the evening 
approached, and no signs of their surrender appeared, 
I ordered the two pieces of ordnance to be levelled to- 
wards the enemy to try their effect in causing them to 
yield : but they suffered greater injury when full license 
was given to the allies to attack them than from the can- 
non, although the latter did them some mischief. As this 
was of little avail, I ordered the musketry to be fired ; 
when a certain angular space where they were crowded 
together was gained, and some of the people thrown into 
the water ; those that remained there yielded themselves 
prisoners without a struggle. In the mean time, the bri- 
gantines suddenly entered that part of the lake, and 
broke through the midst of the fleet of canoes, the war- 
riors who were in them not daring to make any resistance. 
It pleased God, that the captain of a brigantine, named 
Garci Holguin came up behind a canoe in which there 
seemed to be persons of distinction ; and when the 
archers who were stationed in the bow of the brigantine 
took aim at those in the canoe, they made a signal that 
the cacique was there, that the men might not discharge 
their arrows ; instantly our people leaped into the canoe, 
and seized in it Guautimucin, and the lord of Tacuba, 
together with other distinguished persons that accompa- 
nied the cacique. Immediately after this occurrence, 
Garci Holguin, the captain, delivered to me on a terrace 
adjoining the lake, where I was standing, the cacique of 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 331 

the city with other noble prisoners ; who, as I bade him 
sit down, without showing any asperity of manner, came 
up to me, and said in his own tongue, " That he had 
done all that was incumbent on him in defence of him- 
self and his people, until he was reduced to his present con- 
dition ; that now I might do with him as I pleased." He 
then laid his hand on a poniard that I wore, telling me to 
strike him to the heart. I spoke encouragingly to him, 
and bade him have no fears.* Thus the cacique being 
taken a prisoner, the war ceased at this point, which it 
pleased God our Lord to bring to a conclusion on Tuesday, 
Saint Hippolytus' day, the thirteenth of August, 1521. So 
that from the day when the city was first invested, the 
30th of May in that year, until it was taken, seventy-five 



* Humboldt gives the following account of his endeavors, when in Mexico, to 
ascertain the place where the capture of Guatimotzin occurred : — " Strangers 
are shown the bridge of Clerigo, near the great square of Tlatelolco, as the 
memorable spot where the last Aztec king Quauhtemotzin, nephew of his pre- 
decessor, king Cuitlahuatzin, and son in law of Montezuma II., was taken. But 
the result of the most careful researches which myself and the padre Pichardo 
could make was, that the young king fell into the hands of Garci Holguin in a 
great basin of water which was formerly between the Garita del Peralvilla, the 
square of Santiago de Tlatelolco, and the bridge of Amexac. Cortes happened 
to be on the terrace of a house of Tlatelolco when the young kmg was brought 
a prisoner to him. 'I made him sit down,' says the conqueror in his third letter 
to the emperor, Charles V., ' and I treated him with confidence ; but the young 
man put his hand on the poniard which I wore at my side, and exhorted me 
to kill him, because, since he had done all that his duty to himself and his people 
demanded of him, he had no other desire but death.' This trait is worthy of 
the best days of Greece and Rome. Under every zone, whatever may be the 
complexion of men, the language of strong hearts struggling with misfortune 
is the same. We have already seen what was the tragical end of this unfortu- 
nate Quauhtemotzin." 

We annex the original of these concluding remarks out of justice to the emi- 
nent author : — " Ce trait est digne du plus beau temps de la Grece et de Rome. 
Sous toutes les zones, quelle que soit la couleur des hommes, le langage des 
ames fortes est le meme lorsqu' elles luttent centre le malheur. Nous avona 
vu plus haut quelle fut la fin tragique d^ cet infortun^ Quauhtemotzin !" — iVbwv. 
Ssp. p.l92, 4to.ed. 



332 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

days had elapsed ; during which time your Majesty will 
see what labors, dangers, and calamities your subjects 
endured ; and their deeds afford the best evidence how 
much they exposed their lives.* 

* The anniversary of the capture of Guatimotzin, and the consequent fell of 
the city, was regularly observed with great pomp and ceremony at Mexico 
during the three centuries of Spanish rule ; but since the revolution, and the 
predominance of the Indian interest, all this has been changed. 



A PLAN 
CITY AND LAKES 

OP 

MEXICO. 




Note. The reader is desired to refer to the description of the city and lakes at 
page n 1, in connexion widi the above Plan. 



43 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 335 



CHAPTER VI. 

During all these seventy-five days of the siege, not 
one passed on which there was not some fighting, 
more or less, with the Mexicans. On the day of the 
capture of Guautimucin and fall of the city, after having 
collected what spoil we could find, we returned to our 
camp, giving thanks to our Lord for so signal a reward, 
and so desirable a victory, as he had granted us. I con- 
tinued three or four days in camp, for the purpose of 
adjusting matters that required my attention, and after- 
wards we came to the city of Cuyoacan, where I have 
remained till the present time, employed in regulating 
the government and reducing the people in all these 
countries to a condition of settled peace. 

Having collected the gold and other articles of value, 
the former was melted down by the advice of your Ma- 
jesty's officials, and amounted to about 130,000 castella- 
nos, of which one fifth part was given to the treasurer 
of your Majesty ; but the fifth of other rights pertaining 
to your Majesty, as slaves, &c., will appear more at 
length in the general account of what is due to your 
Majesty, which will be forwarded, signed with our names. 
The remainder of the gold was divided amongst myself 
and the Spaniards, according to the rank, services, and 
standing of each. Besides this gold, there were certain 
utensils and jewels of the same metal, and of the best 
of these one fifth part was given to your Majesty's trea- 
surer. Among the spoils obtained in the city were many 
shields of gold, plumes, panaches, and other articles, of 



336 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

SO wonderful a character that language will not convey 
an idea of them, nor could a correct conception be 
formed of their rare excellence without seeing them. 
These, it appeared to me, ought not to be divided into 
fifths or distributed, but the whole presented to your Ma- 
jesty ; for this purpose I called together all the Spaniards 
and asked them to consent that the parts which might 
fall to them and to me should be offered to your Majesty ; 
and they were pleased and most willing to make such a 
disposition of the articles. So we sent the offering to 
your Majesty by the agents whom the council of this 
New Spain had deputed. 

As the city of Temixtitan was so distinguished and 
well known throughout this part of the world, it appears 
that it had come to the knowledge of the cacique of a 
very extensive province, seventy leagues from Temix- 
titan, called Mechuacan,* that we had destroyed and 
razed it to the ground ; and considering the greatness 
and strength of that city, it occurred to the cacique of 
this province, that since it had been unable to protect 
itself against us, nothing could withstand us. So from 
fear, or because it pleased him, he sent messengers to 
me, who on his behalf, by means of interpreters of their 
language, informed me that their lord had heard we were 
the subjects of a great prince, and that if I was willing, 
both he and his subjects would also like to become so, 
and to form a firm alliance with us. I answered them, that 
it was true we were all subjects of a great prince, who 
was your Majesty, and that we should make war on all 
who refused his allegiance ; and that their lord and them- 
selves had done well in this matter. As I a short time 

* Now the department of Michoacan, west of the city of Mexico, bordering on 
the Pacific Ocean. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. • ♦ 337 

before had received some information concerning the 
South Sea. I inquired of them whether it could be 
reached by going through their country ; they answered, 
yes ; and I then asked them if they would take along 
with them two Spaniards that I should send for the pur- 
pose of obtaining information for your Majesty respecting 
that sea and their province ; they replied that it would 
give them great pleasure, but that in order to go to the 
sea it would be necessary to enter the territory of a great 
lord with whom thej'' were at war ; and that for this 
reason they would not now be able to reach the sea. 
These messengers of Mechuacan remained with me here 
three or four days ; and I caused the cavalry to manoeu- 
vre before them, that they might describe it at home. 
Having presented them with some trinkets, I despatched 
them and the two Spaniards to the province of Mechua- 
can. 

I had received not long before, most powerful Sire, as 
I have already mentioned, some account of another sea 
to the south, and learned that at two or three points it 
was twelve, thirteen, and fourteen days' journey distant" 
from this city. The information gave me much pleasure, 
for it appeared to me that the discovery would prove a 
great and signal service to your Majesty ; especially as 
all who possess any knowledge or experience in naviga- 
tion to the Indies have considered it certain that the dis- 
covery of the South Sea in these parts would bring to 
light many islands rich in gold, pearls, precious stones, 
and spiceries, together with many other unknown and 
choice productions ; and the same has been affirmed also 
by persons versed in learning, and skilled in the science 
of cosmography. With such views, and a desire that I 
might be able to render your Majesty a distinguished and 



338 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

memorable service in this matter, I despatched four 
Spaniards, two by one route and two by another, who 
having obtained the necessary information as to the 
course they were to take, set out, accompanied by several 
of our allies as guides and companions. I ordered them 
not to stop till they had reached the sea ; and when they 
discovered it to take actual and corporal possession in 
the name of your Majesty. One of these parties travelled 
about one hundred and thirty leagues, through many fine 
provinces, without encountering any obstacles, and ar- 
rived at the sea, of which they took possession, and in 
token thereof set up crosses along the coast. After some 
days they returned with an account of their discovery, 
and informed me very particularly concerning it ; they 
brought with them several of the natives from that 
quarter, together with good specimens of gold from the 
mines found in the provinces through which they passed, 
v;hich with other specimens I now send to your Majesty. 
The other party were absent somewhat longer, for they 
took a different course and travelled one hundred and 
fifty leagues before they reached the sea, of which they 
also took possession, and brought me a full account of 
the coast with some of the natives of the country. I 
received the strangers in both parties graciously, and 
having informed them of the great power of your Ma- 
jesty and made them some presents, I suffered them to 
depart on their return to their own country, and they 
went away much gratified. 

In my former relation, most Catholic Sire, I informed 
your Majesty that at the time when the Indians defeated 
me, and first drove us out of the city of Temixtitan, all 
the provinces subject to that city rebelled against your 
Majesty and made war upon us ; and your Majesty will 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 

see by this relation how we have reduced to his royal 
service most of the provinces that proved rebellious. 
There are certain provinces situated at distances of ten, 
fifteen, and thirty leagues from the coast of the North 
Sea,* which rebelled at the same time as Temixtitan, 
and their people treacherously put to death more than a 
hundred Spaniards while in a state of fancied security. 
But it was impossible for me to punish them until the 
war with the city had been brought to a close. After 
the return of the exploring parties from the South Sea, 
I determined to send Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguazil 
mayor, with a detachment of thirty-five horse and two 
hundred Spanish foot, accompanied by our allies, and 
some of the noble natives of Temixtitan, to those pro- 
vinces named Tatactetelco, Tuxtepeque, Guatusco, and 
Aulicaba ; and when I had given him instructions as to 
his mode of procedure in this expedition, he began his 
preparations for carrying them into effect. 

At this time the deputy I had left in the town of Se- 
gura de la Frontera, in the province of Tepeaca, came 
to the city of Cuyoacan, and informed me that the natives 
of that province and others adjacent to it, vassals of your 
Majesty, had sustained some injury from the people of 
another province called Guaxacaque, [Oaxaca,] who had 
made war upon them because they were in alliance with 
us ; and that besides the necessity of redressing this 
wrong, it was a matter of great importance to reduce 
that province of Guaxacaque, from its being on the route 
to the South Sea, and for other reasons that I shall here- 
after state to your Majesty. The deputy added, that he 
was well informed respecting the condition of that pro- 
vince, and would be able to subdue it with a small force ; 

* The Gulf of Mexico. 



340 LETTERS OF CORTEg. 

for while I was encamped near Temixtitan, he had gone 
there at the earnest soHcitation of the Tepeacans, who 
wished him to make war upon it, but as he had not 
taken with him more than twenty or thirty Spanish sol- 
diers, they caused him to return, though no sooner than 
he wished. On hearing this account, I gave the deputy 
a force of twelve horse and eighty Spanish foot ; and in 
company with the alguazil mayor he left Cuyoacan on 
the 30th of October, 1521. When they reached the pro- 
vince of Tepeaca they there reviewed the troops ; after 
which each party proceeded on its own destination. 
Twenty-five days after, the alguazil mayor wrote me 
that he had arrived in the province of Guatusco, and 
although he had feared a serious conflict with the enemy, 
who were skilful in war and had many fortresses in their 
country, it pleased our Lord that they should meet with 
a peaceful reception ; that although he had not reached 
the other provinces, he felt assured that all of them would 
yield subjection as vassals of your Majesty. Fifteen 
days later I received other letters from him informing 
me of his farther progress, and that the whole country 
was at peace ; and that it appeared to him necessary, in 
order to keep it in a state of security, to plant colonies 
in it, as we had some time before talked of doing, and 
recommending to me to take measures for this purpose. 
I wrote to him, thanking him much for his labors in that 
expedition to promote your Majesty's service ; and I ex- 
pressed my approbation of what he had said in favor of 
colonizing the country, desiring him to establish a Spanish 
town in the province of Tuxtebeque, and to give it the 
name of Medellin ;* and I sent him a list of persons for 
alcaldes, regidores and other officials, whom I enjoined 

* The name of the native town of both Cortes and Sandoval. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 341 

to look carefully after the interests of your Majesty and 
the kind treatment of the natives. 

The deputy of the town of Segura de la Frontera pro- 
ceeded to the province of Guaxaca, having besides his 
own force a large body of warriors of the neighboring 
region, our allies ; and although the people of that pro- 
vince made some resistance, fighting bravely on two or 
three occasions, they finally sued for peace, without hav- 
ing suffered any loss. I received from him a particular 
account of all that had occurred, and information that 
the country was rich, and abounded in mines ; a very 
remarkable specimen of gold procured from them, which 
he sent to me, I transmit to your Majesty. The deputy 
remained in the province for the purpose of executing the 
orders I should send him. 

Having ordered these two conquests, and witnessed 
the success that crowned our exertions in that quarter ; 
and seeing that I had already established these Spanish 
towns, while there yet remained with me at Cuyoacan a 
goodly number of our countrymen, I consulted with them' 
about a site for another colony in the neighborhood of 
the lakes, which was necessary for the safety and tran- 
quillity of all this region. As the city of Temixtitan 
was a place of great celebrity and distinction, and ever 
memorable, it appeared to me that it would be well to 
build another town upon its ruins j I therefore distribu- 
ted the ground amongst the proposed inhabitants, and 
appointed alcaldes and regidores in the name of your 
Majesty, according to the custom of your realms ; and 
while the houses were going up, we determined to abide 
in this city of Cuyoacan, where we at present are. ,It is 
now four or five months since the rebuilding of the city 
was commenced, and it is already very handsome ; and 

44 



342 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

your Majesty may be assured that it will go on increas- 
ing to such a degree that, as it was formerly the capital 
and mistress of all these provinces, it will still be so 
hereafter. It is built so far, and will be completed, in 
such a manner as to render the Spaniards strong and 
secure, greatly superior to the natives, and wholly un- 
assailable by them. 

In the mean time, the cacique of the province of Teco- 
antepeque, situated towards the South Sea, which the 
two Spaniards explored, sent to me certain chiefs by 
whom he offered himself as a vassal of your Majesty, 
and at the same time sent presents of jewels and pieces 
of gold, and feathered ornaments, all which were de- 
livered to the treasurer of your Majesty. I thanked the 
messengers for what they had declared on the part of 
their lord, and gave them a number of things, which 
they took and returned much pleased to their own coun- 
try- 
There also arrived at this time the two Spaniards who 

had gone to the province of Mechuacan, through which, 
as the messengers sent by the cacique had reported, one 
route lay to the South Sea, except that it also led across 
the territory of another cacique who was his enemy. 
With these Spaniards came a brother of the cacique of 
Mechuacan, and several other nobles, attended by a reti- 
nue of more than a thousand servants, whom I received 
with many marks of regard. They brought me for your 
Majesty on the part of the cacique of the province called 
Calcucin, a present of silver shields, that weighed many 
marks,* and numerous other articles, which were deliv- 
ered to the treasurer of your Majesty. In order that 
.they might see our mode of manoeuvring, and report it 

* A mark weighs eight ounces — hence called apiece ofeiglii. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 843 

to their cacique, I caused all the cavalry to parade on 
the square, and run and skirmish before them ; the in- 
fantry also marched out in order, and the musketeers 
discharged their pieces ; at the same time, the artillery 
fired at a tower, and the natives were astonished to see 
the effect produced, as well as by the running of the 
horses. I then took them to survey the desolate ruins of 
the city of Temixtitan, and they were surprised on be- 
holding the strength with which it had been built, with 
its fortresses, situated as it was in the midst of the water. 
After four or five days, when I had given them many 
things for their cacique, such as were most prized by 
them, and also for themselves, they departed much 
pleased with their visit. 

I have already given your Majesty an account of the 
river Panuco, fifty or sixty leagues distant from Vera 
Cruz along the coast, to which the ships of Francisco de 
Garay had made several visits, when they met with a 
rude reception from the natives, on account of the bad 
management of the captains in trading with them. Sub- 
sequently, when I saw that there was a deficiency of 
harbors along the whole coast of the North Sea, and no 
one equal to that afforded by the river in question, and 
recollecting that some of the natives had formerly come 
to offer themselves as your Majesty's vassals, who now 
were making war on our alhes, I determined to send 
there a captain with a small force to reduce all that pro- 
vince, and if the country was suitable for a colony, to 
establish one on the river, in order to secure the tranquil- 
lity of all that region.* Although we were few in num- 
ber, our force being scattered in three or four different 
directions, and on this account I met with opposition tq 

* Tampico is now situated at the mouth of the river Panuco. 



344 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the removal of any more men ftom this post, yet in order 
to succor our allies, and because since the city of Temix- 
titan was taken ships had arrived and brought reinforce- 
ments of men and horses, I caused twenty-five horse, one 
hundred and fifty foot, and a captain to command them, 
to be in readiness for proceeding to that river. 

While engaged in this business, I received accounts 
from Vera Cruz of the arrival at that fort of a ship in 
which came Cristoval de Tapia, smelting-inspector 
in the island of Espanola, from whom I had a letter the 
next day, in which he informed me that the object of his 
coming to this country was to assume the government of 
it by your Majesty's command, and that he had brought 
with him his royal commission, which he should no 
where exhibit until he saw us, but hoped this would be 
soon ; as, however, the animals he had brought were 
affected bv the voyage, he should not set out at present, 
and begged we would direct how the interview should 
take place, whether by his coming here, or by going my- 
self to the sea-coast. As soon as I had received his let- 
ter, I answered it, saying that I was much pleased with 
his arrival; that no one could come provided with an 
order from his Majesty to assume the government of these 
parts with whom I should be better pleased, both on ac- 
count of the acquaintance that existed between us, and 
the neighborly intercourse we had enjoyed together in 
the island of Espanola. Tranquillity not being firmly 
established in this quarter, and any novelty being likely 
to estrange the natives, I begged Padre Fr. Pedro Melga- 
rejo de Urrea, Commissary de la Cruzada, (who has been 
present in all my labors, and knew well the situation of 
affairs to the present moment, and by whose coming your 
Majesty's service has been promoted, and ourselves 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 345 

benefitted by his spiritual teachings and counsels,) to 
undertake the task of meeting the said Tapia, and exam- 
ining the orders of your Majesty ; and since he knew 
better than any one what the royal interests required, 
as well as those of the country, that he would give such 
directions to the said Tapia as he deemed most proper, 
from which he knew I would not deviate in the least de- 
gree. I made this request in the presence of your Ma- 
jesty's treasurer, who joined his solicitations to mine. 
He accordingly departed for the town of Vera Cruz, 
where the said Tapia was ; and in order that suitable 
attentions might be paid to the Inspector, either in the 
town, or wherever they should meet, I despatched with 
the padre two or three respectable persons from my 
companions, and when they had gone I waited the issue. 
In the mean time, I employed myself in regulating the 
affairs of my command, and in such a way as best to 
promote your Majesty's interests, and the peace and 
security of these parts. 

In ten or twelve days after, the magistrate and muni- 
cipality of Vera Cruz wrote me, that the said Tapia had 
exhibited the orders of your Majesty, and of your gover- 
nors acting in the royal name, which they had treated 
with all suitable reverence ; but that as to the execution 
of the orders, they had answered, that since the most of 
the government were with me, having been concerned in 
the siege of the city, they should be informed of them, and 
in the mean time they would do whatever the service of 
your Majesty and the good of the country required ; this 
answer, they added, was received by the said Tapia 
with great displeasure, and he had since attempted some 
scandalous things. Although this intelligence occasioned 
me some regret, I answered them, and begged and en- 



346 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

treated that they would look chiefly to the service of your 
Majesty, and endeavor to content the said Tapia, giving 
him no occasion for making a disturbance ; and that I 
was about going to meet him, and to comply with what- 
ever your Majesty commanded, and the most your ser- 
vice required. As I was now preparing to depart, the 
proposed expedition to the river Panuco was suspended, 
since it was necessary to leave a strong force here during 
my absence ; but the members of the Council of New 
Spain entreated me with many protestations not to go, as 
all this province of Mexico and Temixtitan, having been 
but a short time reduced, might revolt in my absence, 
whence much injury would be done to your Majesty's 
service, and great disturbance caused in the country. 
They also urged many other arguments and reasons why 
it was inexpedient for me to leave this city at present ; 
and added, that they with the authority of the Council 
would go to Vera Cruz, where the said Tapia resided, 
examine the orders of your Majesty, and perform all that 
the royal service demanded. As it seemed so essential 
to our safety that the said counsellors should go, I wrote 
by them to Tapia, informing him of what had passed, 
and that I had authorised Gonzalo de Sandoval, alguazil 
mayor, Diego de Soto, and Diego de Valdenebro, who 
were there in the town of Vera Cruz, jointly with the 
Council of Vera Cruz, and the members of the other 
town councils, to see and perform whatever the service 
of your Majesty, and the good of the country required ; 
for that they were, and still are, the persons whose duty 
it was to execute such orders. 

When they reached the place where the said Tapia 
was, who had already set out on his journey to this city, 
accompanied by the Padre Fr. Pedro, they requested him 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 347 

to return, and they all went together to the city of Cem- 
pual, where Cristobal de Tapia presented your Majesty's 
orders, which all received with the respect due to your 
Majesty. In regard to their execution, they said that 
they asked some delay of your Majesty, as demanded by 
the royal interests, for causes and reasons contained in 
their petition, and more fully set forth therein ; which the 
deputies from New Spain carried, signed by a public 
notary. After some other acts and proceedings between 
the inspector and the deputies, he embarked in his own 
ship, as he had been requested to do ; since from his re- 
maining, and having published that he had come as go- 
vernor and captain of these parts, there would have been 
disturbances ; the people of Mexico and Temixtitan hav- 
ing designed in connexion with the other natives of the 
country to revolt, and having plotted a great treason 
which would have been more difficult to meet than the 
former. The plan was as follows : some Indians in this 
part of Mexico concerted with others in the provinces 
which the alguazil mayor had gone to reduce, that they 
should come to me in great haste, and report " that twenty 
ships with many people had arrived on the coast, but had 
not come into the harbor ; and that as they could not be 
friendly, if I would go and ascertain what they were, they 
would put themselves in readiness, and engage in the 
war as my auxiliaries" ; and for the purpose of creating 
belief in their account, they brought me a representation 
of the ships on paper. As they had sent me this infor- 
mation secretly, I immediately knew their motive, which 
was bad, and that it was a plan to get me out of this pro- 
vince ; for some of their principal persons had known 
several days before my intention to go, but finding that I 
remained, they had sought this mode of inducing me to 



348 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

depart. At first I pretended not to know their design, 
but afterwards I apprehended some of those who had 
been concerned in it. In this way the coming of the said 
Tapia, and his want of knowledge respecting the country 
and its inhabitants, excited sedition, and his stay would 
have led to serious evils, if God had not interposed to 
prevent it. Much greater service would have been ren- 
dered to your Majesty, if, while he was in the island of 
Espanola, instead of coming hither, he had first advised 
with your Majesty, after informing you of the situation of 
affairs in this country, which he had learned from the 
ships I had sent to that island for succors ; and he had 
also known well the discomfiture of the mischievous de- 
signs that prompted the expedition of Panfilo de Narvaez, 
which had been chiefly set on foot by the governors and 
royal council of your Majesty. But what is of greater 
moment, the said Tapia had been often advised by the 
admiral, judges, and other officials of your Majesty, re- 
siding in the island of Espanola, not to come into these 
parts until your Majesty had first been informed of all 
that had taken place here ; and on this account they had 
prohibited his coming under certain penalties ; which 
prohibition, however, by means in his power, looking 
more at his individual interest than the service of your 
Majesty, he had succeeded in getting removed. I have 
prepared this account of every thing in relation to this 
matter for your Majesty, because, when the said Tapia 
departed, neither the deputies nor myself drew up any 
statement, as he would not have been a suitable bearer 
of our letters ; and also that your Majesty may see and 
believe, that by not receiving the said Tapia, your Majesty 
was well served, as will be more fully established when- 
ever it shall be necessary. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 849 

In a former part of this relation, I informed your Ma- 
jesty that the captain whom I sent to conquer the province 
of Guaxaca, had succeeded in reducing it to subjection, 
and was waiting there for further orders from me ; and 
since there was need of his presence elsewhere, on ac- 
count of his being alcalde and deputy of the town of Se- 
gura la Frontera, I wrote him to deliver the men and 
horse under his command to Pedro de Alvarado, whom 
I had sent to conquer the province of Tatutepeque,* which 
is forty leagues beyond Guaxaca, adjoining the sea, 
whose inhabitants had waged a mischievous war against 
those provinces that professed allegiance to your Majesty, 
and also against the province of Tecoatepeque, because 
we had been allowed to pass through its territory for the 
purpose of discovering the South Sea. Pedro de Alva- 
rado left this city on the last of January of the present 
year, [1522,] and with the men he took froto here, and 
those that joined him in Guaxaca, his whole fotce amount- 
ed to forty horse and two hundred foot, including forty 
archers and musketeers, and two small fiwld pieces. Iw 
twenty days from the time of his departure, 1 received ai 
letter from him while on his route to- the province of Ta- 
tutepeque, in which he informed me that he had taken 
certain spies, natives of that province, who, on being 
questioned, said that the cacique of Tatutepeqlie with his 
people was expecting him in the field. He also stated that 
he was going with the determination to do the utmost in his 
power to reduce that province, for which end he had with 
him besides the Spaniard s a large and effective force of na- 
tive troops. While waiting with much anxiety the success 
of this expedition, on the fourth of March in the same year, 

• Tuxtepeque, in Guatemala. 

45 



350 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

I received letters from Pedro de Alvarado, in which he in- 
formed me that he had entered the province ; that three 
or four towns in it had attempted some resistance, but did 
not hold out, and he had gone to the town and city of 
Tatutepeque, where he was well received, so far as ap- 
peared ; that the cacique had desired him to lodge in 
some of his large houses with thatched roofs, but the 
situation being inconvenient for the cavalry, they had 
sought another in a lower part of the city, which was 
more level ; that he had also m.ade this change for an- 
other cause, having received an intimation that they had 
planned to destroy him and his whole party by setting 
fire to the houses in which all the Spaniards were lodged, 
in the middle of the night, and burning them to death. 
God having revealed this plot to him, he had dissembled 
his knowledge of it, and took with him to the lower situa- 
tion the cacique of the province and his son, whom he 
had detained, and still kept in his power as prisoners; 
that they had given him 25,000 castellanos, and he be- 
lieved, as informed by the vassals of the cacique, that he 
possessed much treasure ; that all the province was as 
tranquil as possible, and the markets and places of busi- 
ness were open as usual ; that the country was rich in 
gold mines, and in his presence they had taken out a spe- 
cimen, which he sent to me ; and that three days before 
he had been to the sea, and taken possession of it for your 
Majesty, from which in his presence they had obtained 
a specimen of pearls, which he also sent me, and which 
together with the gold I transmit to your Majesty. 

As God our Lord had prospered this expedition, and 
was about to filfil the desire I had of serving your Ma- 
jesty on this South Sea, a matter of deep importance, I 
made active arrangements for the construction of two 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 351 

caravels of moderate capacity, and two brigantines, at 
one of the three points where I had discovered the sea ; 
the caravels for voyages of discovery, and the brigantines 
for coasting. For this purjDose I despatched thither under 
the charge of a discreet person full forty Spaniards, 
amongst whom were master-workmen, ship-carpenters, 
sawyers, smiths, and seamen ; and I had procured from 
the town [Vera Cruz] a supply of nails, sails, and other 
necessary articles for the vessels ; I also directed the 
greatest possible haste to be made in finishing and launch- 
ing them. When this is accomplished, your Majesty may 
be assured it will be the greatest achievement, and the 
one that will redound more to the service of your Majesty 
than any thing since the discovery of the Indies. 

While in the city of Tesaico before going to besiege 
the city of Temixtitan, and in the midst of our prepara- 
tions for that enterprise, without attending to the move- 
ments of individuals, there came to me one of a band of 
conspirators with the disclosure, that certain friends of 
Diego Velazquez amongst my followers had plotted to 
take my life, and that they had chosen from their number 
a captain, alcalde mayor, alguazil, and other officials. 
I saw at once the necessity of taking measures to arrest 
this movement, for besides the mischief that would fol- 
low from my death, not a Spaniard would escape when 
we should be seen at variance with one another ; for we 
should find not only the enemy acting against us, but 
even those who had been our alhes laboring for our de- 
struction. When I perceived the enormity of these 
treasonable designs, I gave thanks to our Lord, for to 
that our safety is to be attributed. I immediately caused 
one who was the principal aggressor to be apprehended, 
who voluntarily confessed that he had planned in con-f 



352 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

cert with a number of persons, whom he mentioned in 
his confession, to seize and kill me, and assume the go- 
vernment of the country for Diego Velazquez ; that it 
was actually proposed to appoint a captain and an 
alcalde mayor, and that he himself was to have been 
alguazil mayor and to seize me and put me to death ; 
that many persons were implicated in the plot, whose 
names were contained in a list found in his quarters, 
though torn in pieces ; and that not only at Tesaico, but 
also during the war in the province of Tepeaca, these 
treasonable designs had been agitated and planned. 
When I heard the confession of this man, whose name 
was Antonio de Villafana, a native of Zamora, as his 
guilt was proved by his own confession, an alcalde 
and myself condemned him to suffer death, which sen- 
tence was accordingly carried into effect. Although we 
found others were implicated in this affair, I dissembled 
with them, treating them as friends ; and as I was per- 
sonally concerned, although your Majesty's interests 
were more properly involved, I did not wish to proceed 
rigorously against them. This lenity, however, did not 
prove of much advantage j since from that time to this, 
the partizans of Diego Velazquez have laid many snares 
for me, and secretly committed many scandalous out- 
rages, so that I was obliged to be more on my guard 
against them than even our enemies. But God our Lord 
has ever guided us to such a course, that without resort- 
ing to punishment we have been able to maintain peace 
and tranquillity ; and should I hereafter perceive any 
other demonstrations of a similar kind, I shall visit it 
with a punishment conformable to justice. 

After the fall of the city of Temixtitan, since my resi- 
dence .git Cuyoacan, Don Fernando, cacique of Tesaico, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 353 

died ; an event deeply lamented by us all, for he was a 
good subject of your Majesty, and a great friend to the 
Christians. His younger brother who was baptized, and 
had assumed the name of Don Carlos, succeeded him 
in the caciqueship, in your Majesty's name, with the ap- 
probation of the nobles and principal persons of that city 
and province ; and so far as is known to the present 
time, he follows in the footsteps of his brother, and takes 
much pleasure in conforming to our habits and mode of 
life. 

In my former relation I informed your Majesty that 
near the provinces of Tlascala and Guajocingo, there is 
a conical mountain of great height, from which smoke 
issues almost continually, and mounts in a straight 
column like an arrow.* As the Indians told us it was 
dangerous to ascend this mountain, and fatal to those 
who made the attempt, I caused several Spaniards to 
undertake it, and examine the character of the sum- 
mit. At the time they went up, so much smoke pro- 
ceeded from it, accompanied by loud noises, that they 
were either unable or afraid to reach its mouth. After- 
wards I sent up some other Spaniards, who made two 
attempts, and finally reached the aperture of the moun- 
tain whence the smoke issued, which was two bow-shots 
wide, and about three-fourths of a league in circumfer- 
ence ; and they discovered some sulphur around it, 
which the smoke deposited. During one of their visits 
they heard a tremendous noise, followed by smoke, 
when they made haste to descend, but before they 
reached the middle of the mountain there fell around 
them a heavy shower of stones, from which they were 

* Popocatepetl. 



354 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

in no little danger. The Indians considered it a very 
great undertaking to go where the Spaniards had been. 

I have informed your Majesty in my letter, that the 
natives of these parts possessed more capacity than those 
of the other islands,* appearing to us to have as much 
understanding and intelligence as persons not above me- 
diocrity ; and for this reason it seemed to me a serious 
matter to compel them to serve the Spaniards in the same 
manner as the natives of those islands, although with- 
out their services the conquerors and settlers here would 
not be able to sustain life. In order to impose no con- 
straint on the Indians, and that the Spaniards may have 
some compensation for being deprived of their services, 
it seems to me that your Majesty should command the 
rents that pertain to your Majesty to be apphed in part 
to their expenses and support ; and on this head such 
provision should be made as would best subserve the 
service, as I shall more fully inform your Majesty. See- 
ing the many and constant expenses of your Majesty up 
to this time, and that we ought to increase the rents by 
every means before we add to them ; and seeing also 
the great length of time that we have been engaged in 
these wars, and the wants and necessities to which we 
have all been exposed, and the delay that must arise be- 
fore the commands of your Majesty are known ; and 
above all, considering the great importunity of your Ma- 
jesty's officials and all the Spaniards, and the impossi- 
bility of excusing myself to them, I was almost compelled 
to place the caciques and natives of the country in the 
hands of the Spaniards, on account of the services they 
have rendered your Majesty here ; and in the mean 
time some other arrangement may be hereafter made, or 

* " Las otras islas." 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 355 

this confirmed, that the said caciques and natives may 
sei've, and yield to every Spaniard to whose hands they 
are committed what is necessary for his support. This 
plan was adopted with the advice of persons who had 
and still possess much intelligence and experience in this 
country ; a better could not be pursued, either for the 
support of the Spaniards, or the preservation and kind 
treatment of the Indians, as will more fully appear in the 
reports of the deputies that go from New Spain to your 
Majesty. Instead of rents of farms and lands your 
Majesty will possess the revenues of provinces and cities 
which are better and more convenient. I beg your Ma- 
jesty to command such a provision to be made as may 
most promote your Majesty's service. 

Most Catholic Sire, God our Lord preserve and aug- 
ment the life and very royal person and powerful state 
of your Imperial Majesty with an increase of as much 
greater realms and seignories as your royal heart may 
desire. From the city of Cuyoacan, in this New Spain 
of the Ocean-sea, the fifteenth of May, 1522. 

Most Powerful Sire, the very humble servant and vas- 
sal of your Imperial Majesty, who kisses the very royal 
feet and hands of your Majesty. 

HERNANDO CORTES. 



LETTER IV. 
THE FOURTH RELATION 



SENT BT 



FERNANDO CORTES, 



GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN-GENEKAL FOR HIS MAJESTY IN NEW SPAIN OF THE 
OCEAN-SEA, 



MOST NOBLE AND POWERFUL LORD DON CARLOS, 

THE AUGUST EMPEROR AND KING OF SPAIN; 

Together with other letters and relations from the Captains Pedro de Alvarado 
and Diego de Godoy to the said Fernando Cortes. 

Printed at Toledo, by Gaspar de Avila ; finished October 20th, 1525. 



46 



NOTE. 

In the year 1523, after the receipt of his Third Letter 
in Spain, Cortes was at length appointed Governor 
and Captain-General of New Spain. This was the first 
commission he received from the crown. In the follow- 
ing Letter he describes the measures taken by him to bring 
the whole country into subjection, including the districts 
which had been independent of the Mexican empire. 
Various enterprises both of conquest and discovery were 
set on foot, of which he gives an account; but what seems 
most to have attracted his attention was the possibility of 
discovering the supposed strait communicating with the 
East Indies, for which Columbus sought with such in- 
defatigable zeal. 



LETTERS OR DESPATCHES 



FERNANDO CORTES, 



EMPEROR CHARLES V. 



LETTER IV. 

Dated at the city of Temixtitan, {Mexico,) Oct. 15th, 1524. 

Most Noble, Powerful and Excellent Prince : 

Most Catholic and invincible Emperor, King and Lord: 

In the relation that I transmitted to your Majesty by 
the hands of Juan de Rivera, concerning what has taken 
place in these parts since my second despatch, 1 stated 
that for the purpose of establishing peace and submission 
to your Majesty's royal service amongst the provinces of 
Cuatusco, Tustepeque, Guatasca, and others bordering 
upon them, situated on the North Sea,* (which after the 
breaking out of the rebellion in this city had thrown off 
their allegiance,) I had commissioned the alguazil mayor 
to proceed thither with a considerable force, and that he 
was then already on his march ; and that I had given 
him orders to form a settlement in those provinces to be 
called the town of Medellin.t I have now to inform your 

*The Gulf of Mexico 

t La villa de Medellin ; so called from the native place of Corteu. 



360 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Highness, that the proposed town was accordingly set- 
tled, and all that region with its various provinces redu- 
ced to a state of peace. I afterwards despatched an ad- 
ditional number of men to the same quarter, with orders 
to the alguazil mayor to continue his route along the coast 
as far as Guazacualco, which is fifty leagues from Me- 
dellin, and one hundred and twenty from this city ; to 
which daring my former residence in this city, in the life- 
time of Muteczuma, its lord, I sent Diego de Ordas, who 
is now at your Majesty's court ; as I constantly labored 
to obtain all possible information about that region, in 
. order to communicate it to your Majesty. Ordas was 
received with the utmost good will by the nobles and 
native inhabitants, who submitted themselves as vassals 
and subjects of your Highness. He also ascertained the 
existence of a large river that flowed through the province 
and discharged into the sea, with a good harbor for ships 
at its mouth, which he and the rest of his party had 
sounded; the adjacent country was also found suitable 
for a colony. On account of the want of harbors on this 
coast, it was desirable to find a good one, where a settle- 
ment might be formed. 

I commanded the alguazil mayor, that before he en- 
tered the province he should despatch from its borders 
certain persons, natives of this city, indicated by me, as 
messengers to inform the inhabitants that he had gone 
there in obedience to my orders, and to ascertain whether 
they were favorably disposed towards your Majesty's 
service and our alliance, as they had shown themselves 
on a former occasion ; assuring them it was in conse- 
quence of the wars in which I had been engaged with 
the lord of this city and his tributaries, that I had neg- 
lected sending persons to visit them for so long a time ; 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 361 

but that I had ever esteemed them as friends and vassals 
of your Highness, in which relation they would find me 
disposed to do every thing for them in my power; and 
finally, that in order to favor and protect them under any 
circumstances of necessity whatever in which they might 
be placed, I had sent these people to form a colony in 
their province. The alguazil mayor with the force under 
his command proceeded and acted according to my or- 
ders, but did not meet with that favorable disposition on 
the part of the inhabitants which they had before shown; 
on the contrary, they were found in a warlike attitude, 
ready to dispute the entrance of our people into their ter- 
ritory. He managed, however, to surprise a village by 
an attack in the night, where he took prisoner a woman 
of superior rank, whom all in that region obeyed ; through 
whose means peace was made, for she called in the no- 
bles and ordered them to execute whatever commands I 
should issue in your Majesty's name, as she herself in- 
tended to do. Thus they reached the river in question, 
[the Guasacualco,] and at a place four leagues from where 
it discharges into the sea, (no suitable site being found 
within a less distance,) a settlement was commenced and 
a town founded, to which was given the name of Espiritu 
Santo ; and there the alguazil mayor sojourned for some 
days, until peace was made with many other neighboring 
provinces, and their allegiance secured to your Catho- 
lic Majesty. Of this number were Tabasco, on the river 
Victoria, or Grijalva, as sometimes called ; Chimaclan, 
Quechula, Quizaltepeque, and others that I omit to men- 
tion from their small extent ; and the natives of these 
provinces placed themselves under the protection of the 
inhabitants of the new town, whom they have continued 
to serve until now ; except that some of them, I speak of 



362 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Cimaclan, Tabasco, and Quizaltepeque, have lately re- 
belled, and a month ago I sent a captain with a force 
from. this city to reduce them to your Majesty's service, 
and punish their rebellion. I have as yet received no 
news of him, but I believe, if it please our Lord, that they 
will have good success, since they were well provided 
with artillery, munitions of war, bowmen and cavalry. 

In my former despatch, Most Catholic Sire, of which 
Juan de Rivera was the bearer, I informed your imperial 
and Catholic Majesty that a great province, called Me- 
chuacan, the lord of which was named Casulci, had 
offered its homage through messengers, who brought a 
certain present, which I forwarded from this New Spain 
to your Highness by the deputies ; and as, according to 
the accounts brought by several Spaniards that I sent 
thither, the province and seignory of the Senor Casulci* 
was of great extent, and possessed much wealth, of 
which they saw the proofs ; it being so near this great 
city, after I had obtained a reinforcement of men and 
horses, I commissioned a captain with seventy horse and 
two hundred foot, well provided with arms and artillery, 
to visit that province, and explore it, and if it was found 
to be as represented, to establish a colony in the princi- 
pal city of Huicicila. He accordingly departed, and 
was well received by the Senor and the inhabitants of 

* This name is more properly written Catzolcin. The dominions of this na- 
tive province comprised the most fertile portions of Mexico, to some part of 
which, called by the Spaniards the Province of Valladolid, the primitive name 
of Mechuacan has been of late restored. In 1531, Don Nuno de Guzman, a 
Spanish governor, having invaded the northern part of Mechuacan, now called 
Jalisco, took the cacique prisoner, and having seized ten thousand marcs of sil- 
ver, besides a considerable amount of gold, and sis thousand Indians for the use 
of his army, burned at the stake Catzolcin and many of Hs nobles. This un- 
necessary cruelty, says Lorenzana, was signally punished : Guzman was de- 
posed from office, arrested, and sent to Spain, where he died suddenly, under 
the displeasure of the king. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 363 

the province, who lodged them in that city, provided 
them with every thing necessary for their subsistence, 
and gave them about three thousand marcs of silver al- 
loyed with copper, being half silver; also about five 
thousand pesos of gold alloyed with silver in no definite 
proportion ; together with cotton cloth, and other things 
that they had ; all which, after deducting a fifth part for 
your Majesty, was distributed amongst the Spaniards of 
the party. Nevertheless, our people were not sufficiently 
pleased with the country to be willing to settle in it, and 
some of them making a disturbance were punished for 
their disorderly conduct. I therefore caused those to 
return who desired, and the rest I ordered to go with a 
captain to the South Sea, where I had and still have a 
town, called JZacatula,* one hundred leagues from Hui- 
cicila ; I have also at the same place four ships on the 
stocks, for the purpose of making discoveries on the sea 
to the utmost extent of my power, and to promote the 
service of God our Lord. 

While this captain and his detachment were on their 
way to the city of Zacatula, they received accounts of a 
province called Coliman, situated fifty leagues to the 
west of their route ; and the whole party, accompanied 
by many of our allies of Mechuacan, proceeded towards 
it without my permission ; but having advanced some 
days on the march, they had several engagements with 
the inhabitants, and although numbering forty horse, 
more than a hundred foot, bowmen and others armed 
with sword and buckler, they were routed and driven 
out of the country ; three Spaniards and many of the 
allies were killed ; and the rest took refuge in the city of 

* This place still retains its original name ; it is a small seaport on the Pacific 
Ocean, north of Acapulco. 



364 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

Zacatula. As soon as I heard of this disaster, I ordered 
the captain to be brought back under arrest, and pun- 
ished for his disobedience. 

Having already informed your Imperial Majesty that 
I had sent Pedro de Alvarado to the province of Tutute- 
peque,* on the South Sea, I have only to add that he 
arrived there, and made prisoners of the cacique and his 
son, who presented him with specimens of gold from 
the mines and pearls ; this is all the information I have 
received to the present time. Your Highness will recol- 
lect that in answer to the accounts this officer forwarded 
to me on a former occasion, I ordered him to seek imme- 
diately in that province a convenient location for a colony, 
and to establish one there ; and I also ordered that the 
inhabitants of the town of Segura de la Frontera should 
remove to this place, since there was no necessity of 
another town so near. This change accordingly took 
place, and the town was called Segura la Frontera, in- 
stead of that which had existed under the same name. 
The natives of this province and of Guaxaca, Coaclan, 
Coasclahuaca, Tachquiaco, and others in the vicinity, 
were distributed amongst the citizens of that town, 
where they served, willingly rendering themselves use- 
ful ; and Pedro de Alvarado remained there as magis- 
trate and captain in my place. It happened while I was 
engaged in the conquest of Panuco, as I shall hereafter 
relate to your Majesty, that the alcaldes and regidores of 
this town asked Pedro de Alvarado to go as their deputy 
to make certain negotiations with me, to which he con- 
sented ; and in his absence the alcaldes and regidores 
formed a sort of league and company, convoking the 

* Situated to the south of Mechuacan, in Oaxaca. There was a place of the 
same name in Puebla. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 365 

commonalty and appointing new alcaldes, and against 
the wishes of the captain whom Pedro de Alvarado had 
left in his place, they abandoned the town, and went in- 
to the province of Guaxaca, thus occasioning much un- 
easiness and disturbance in that quarter. As soon as I 
was informed of this movement by the captain left there, 
I despatched Diego de Ocampo, the alcalde mayor, to 
obtain a knowledge of what had taken place, and punish 
the guilty. When they heard of this, the persons in 
question withdrew, and were absent several days, until 
I apprehended them ; so that the alcalde mayor was 
unable to arrest more than one of the rebels, whom he 
sentenced to death, but the man appealed to me. When 
the others were taken, I delivered them to the alcalde 
mayor, who proceeded against them and sentenced them^ 
as he had done the other to death ; they also appealed tO' 
me. When they had been tried a second time before 
me, and with the same result, I determined, although 
the offence was a serious one, yet on account of the time 
that had elapsed since they were arrested, to commute 
the punishment of death to which they had been sen- 
tenced to a civil death, that is, to banish them from these' 
parts and forbid their return, without the license of your 
Majesty, under the penalty of incurring their original 
sentence. In the mean time, the lord of the province of 
Tututepeque died ; and that province and the others 
adjacent rebelled ; whereupon I sent Pedro de Alvarado 
with a force, accompanied by a son of the deceased lord, 
whom I had in my power ; and although some rencoun- 
ters had taken place, in which several Spaniards lost 
their lives, the provinces returned to your Majesty's ser- 
vice, and now remain tranquil, obedient to the Spaniards, 
although for want of people, the town is not resettled 

47 



366 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

there being no necessity for it. Thus chastised for their 
past delinquency} the inhabitants have been so completely 
subdued, that they even come to this city in obedience 
to orders they receive. 

As soon as this city of Temixtitan was recovered 
with the country subject to it, two provinces were re- 
duced to the imperial crown of your Caesarean Majesty, 
situated forty leagues to the north, on the borders of the 
province of Panuco, called Tututepeque and Mezclitan.* 
They comprised a country of considerable strength, not 
unused to the exercise of arms against the enemy, whom 
they have around them on all sides. Having witnessed 
our dealings with the Panucans, and that no obstacle 
was sufficient to arrest the progress of your Majesty, 
they sent messengers to me, and ofiered themselves as 
subjects and vassals of your Majesty ; as such I received 
them in the royal name of your Majesty, and they main* 
tained their allegiance until after the coming of Christo- 
bal de Tapia. At that time, not only tumult and con- 
fusion were caused in other provinces, but this people 
also refused to render the obedience they had promised, 
and had done much injury to their neighbors who were 
vassals of your Catholic Majesty, burning many towns 
and destroying many lives. Although at this conjunc- 
ture I had no surplus of people to scatter among so many 
places, yet seeing that great evil would result from not 
checking this disaffection, and fearing that the neighbor- 
ing people would unite with them, to avoid injurious 
consequences I despatched a captain with thirty horse, 
a hundred foot, bowmen, musketeers, and buckler-men, 
together with a large force of our allies ; several engage- 

* The former in Puebla, and the latter to the north of the city of Mexico. 



1 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 367 

merits ensued, in which considerable numbers of our 
allies and two Spaniards were killed ; but it pleased our 
Lord that the people voluntarily sought for peace and 
delivered up to me their leaders, whom I pardoned on 
account of their coming in of their own accord without 
waiting to be taken. 

After I was in the province of Panuco, the natives of 
those parts spread a report that I was gone to Castile, 
which caused some disturbance, and one of those two 
provinces, called Tututepeque, rebelled ; the cacique, 
descending from his lands with a large force, burned 
more than twenty towns of our allies, and killed and 
made prisoners of great numbers of them. Being on 
my return from the province of Panuco, I turned aside 
to conquer them ; and although at first they killed some 
people of our allies that were in our rear, and ten or 
twelve horses foundered on the sierras in consequence of 
the ruggedness of the route, all the province was re- 
duced, and the cacique and his brother, a young man, 
with his captain-general, who commanded the whole 
frontier of the country, were taken prisoners. The ca- 
cique and his captain-general were immediately hanged, 
and all the prisoners, being about two hundred persons, 
were made slaves, who were marked and sold by auction, 
and the proceeds, including the fifth that belonged to 
your Majesty, distributed amongst those engaged in the 
war, but proved insufficient to pay for one-third of the 
horses that were lost ; for on account of the poverty of 
•the country there was no other spoil. The rest of the 
people who remained in the province made peace with 
us and still maintain it, having for their lord the youthful 
Ijrother of the cacique who suffered death. Although at 
present the country is of no service or advantage to uSj 



368 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

by reason of the poverty of the land, as I have remarked, 
yet it is better it should be in a state of quiet than cause 
our friends any uneasiness ; and for still greater security 
I have removed to it some of the natives of this region. 

At this time, invincible Csesar, there arrived at the 
port and town of Espiritu Santo, of which I have made 
mention on a preceding page, a very small brigan- 
tine from Cuba, and in it one Juan Bono de Quejo, 
who had accompanied the expedition of Panfilo de Nar- 
vaez to this country as master of one of the ships ; and 
it appeared by the despatches that he brought, that he 
eame by command of Don Juan de Fonseca, Bishop of 
Burgos, in the belief that Christobal de Tapia, whom he 
had contrived to have made governor of it, was here. 
Lest he should meet with obstacles, as he feared, for the 
manifest reason that led him to fear it, the Bishop sent 
him to the island of Cuba to communicate with Diego 
Velasquez, as he had done, who had given him the bri- 
gantine in which he arrived. This Juan Bono brought 
about one hundred letters of the same tenor, signed by 
the bishop, some of which I believe were with blank 
directions, in order that Juan Bono might give them to 
such persons as were here, and he thought best ; the 
purport of these letters was, that they would much ad- 
vance the service of your imperial Majesty by giving 
the said Tapia a favorable reception, for which they 
would obtain a great reward ; that they should be in- 
formed that by serving with me they were acting against 
the wishes of your Excellency ; and many other things 
sufficiently calculated to excite sedition and disaffection. 
To me be wrote another letter of the same general tenor, 
to which he added that if I would obey the said Tapia 
X should receive marked rewards from your Majesty ; 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 369 

but if not, that I might deem it certain you would con- 
sider me a mortal enemy. The arrival of this Juan 
Bono and the letters he brought produced such an effect 
on the people with me, that I assure your Majesty if I 
had not pacified them by explaining the cause of the 
bishop's writing in this way, and leading them to disre- 
gard his threats, at the same time declaring that the 
greatest service your Majesty could receive, and for 
which you would bestow the greatest recompense, would 
be to prevent the bishop or any of his people from inter- 
fering with these regions, as it was his intention to con- 
ceal the truth from your Majesty, and to seek rewards 
here without your Majesty knowing what you were be- 
stowing — I should have had difficulty enough to keep 
them quiet, especially when I was informed, although I 
feigned ignorance at the time, that they proposed, (as 
fears were felt in regard to their pay,) to have a council 
here as well as in Castile, that your Majesty might be 
informed of the truth ; since the bishop had so much to 
do in this business, that their representations did not 
reach the knowledge of your Highness ; as he held the 
offices in the board of trade at Seville in his own control, 
where their messengers had been ill treated, their re- 
ports, letters and money taken from them, and all succors 
of men, arms and provisions withheld. But by ac- 
quainting them with what I have stated above, and 
assuring them that your Majesty knew nothing of any o 
those things, and that they might be satisfied your High- 
ness would reward them for their services in such a 
manner as good and loyal subjects who served their 
king and lord as they had done, deserved ; I succeeded 
in calming their fears, and they became and still are 
content with the arrangements your Highness com- 



370 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

manded me to make, according to the royal provisions. 
They have since served with the greatest alacrity and 
good will, as the fruits of their labors bear witness, 
for which they merit some reward from your Majesty — 
as they have always rendered good service, and still 
do so, and are disposed to continue in the same course. 
I therefore most humbly entreat your Majesty on their 
behalf; for I shall receive it as no less a mark of favor 
to myself than to them, if a reward is given them ; since 
without them I could not have rendered your Majesty 
the service I have done. Especially, I supplicate your 
Highness in the most humble manner to write to them, 
referring to the toils they have encountered in your ser- 
vice, and offering them rewards for what they have done ; 
since besides discharging a debt which your Majesty 
owes in this matter, it would animate them to perform 
future service with much greater zeal. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 371 



CHAPTER II. 

By an order which your imperial Majesty, on the 
petition of Juan de Rivera, has granted touching the af- 
fairs of the Adelantado Francisco de Garay, it appears 
your Highnes« was informed that I had resolved to go or 
send to the river Panuco for the purpose of establishing 
peace. One reason was, that there was reported to be 
a good harbor at the mouth of that river ; and moreover, 
a number of Spaniards had been killed there, as well 
the party under a captain sent by Francisco de Garay, 
as another belonging to a ship that afterwards visited that 
coast, of whom not one was left alive. Some of the 
natives of those parts had come to me to excuse them- 
selves for these murders, saying that they had committed 
them with the knowledge that the men did not belong to 
my company, and alleging that they had been ill-treated 
by them ; but they assured me that if I wished to send 
any of my people there, they would receive them with 
much attention, and serve them by aU means in their 
power ; that they would be pleased to have me send 
them, for they feared that some of their enemies with 
whom they had been engaged would return to wreak 
their vengeance on them, since they were their neighbors 
and had done them much mischief ; but that the Span- 
iards whom I should order there would be able to pro- 
tect them. When these persons came to me, it was out 
of my power to comply with their request, but I pro- 
mised them I would do so in as short a time as possible ; 
whereupon they went away contented, having offered 



372 LEtTTERS OF CORTES. 

for vassals of your Majesty ten or twelve towns of those 
nearest to the limits of the dominions of this city. A few 
days after they returned to me, earnestly entreating that 
since I had sent Spaniards to colonize other parts of the 
country, I would establish a colony amongst them also ; 
otherwise, on account of their having come to me, they 
would receive much injury from their enemies belonging 
to the same river, and those on the sea-coast, although 
they were of the same race as themselves. In order to 
comply with the wishes of these persons, and to found a 
colony, as I was now better supplied with men, I directed 
a captain to go to that river, taking a certain number 
with him ; and while he was on the eve of his departure, 
I learned by a ship that came from the island of Cuba, 
that the Admiral Don Diego Columbus* and the Adelan- 
tados Diego Velasquez and Francisco de Garay had 
joined their forces, and confederated together to effect an 
entrance into the country at that place, in order to do me 
as an enemy all the injury in their power. To prevent 
their hostile disposition from taking effect, and guard 
against any disturbance being produced by their arrival, as 
had happened in the case of Narvaez, I left the city, 
having taken all the precautions in my power, to go in 
person, in order that if they or any one of them should 
arrive, they might meet me before any one else, as I 
could better avert the danger. 

Thus I departed with one hundred and twenty horsey 
three hundred foot, and some artillery, besides about forty 
thousand warriors natives of this city and its vicinity ; 
and when I had arrived within the limits of the country, 
full twenty-five leagues before reaching the port, in a 
large settlement called Ayntuscotaclan, I encountered on 

* Son of Christopher Columbus. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 373 

the road a large force of the enemy, and engaged with 
them ; but on account of the great number of our allies, 
who came to our assistance, and the level ground well 
suited to the movements of the cavalry, the battle did not 
last long, although several of my horses and men were 
wounded, and some of our allies killed ; the enemy suf- 
fered most, great numbers of them being killed, and their 
whole force routed. I remained there in the town two or 
three days, both to cure the wounded, and receive the peo- 
ple who came to acknowledge themselves vassals of your 
Highness. They followed me to the port, and rendered 
us every service in their power. In no part of the route 
did I again encounter an- enemy ; but, on the other hand, 
as I proceeded along the road, the inhabitants came out 
to beg my pardon for their past offences, and to offer pro- 
fessions of allegiance to your Highness. Having arrived 
at the harbor and river, I took up my quarters in a town 
five leagues from the sea, called Chila, which had been 
depopulated and burnt, in consequence of the defeat of 
the captain and people of Francisco de Garay at that 
place. From thence I sent messengers to the other side 
of the river, and to the lakes, on all of which are situated 
large towns, proclaiming to the inhabitants that they need 
entertain no fears that I would make them suffer for the 
past, for I well knew it was in consequence of the ill 
treatment they had received from our people that they 
had risen against them, for which they deserved no blame. 
Nevertheless none of them would come in, but they 
abused the messengers, and even killed some of them ; 
and as on the other side of the river there was fresh 
water from which we obtained our supplies, they posted 
themselves there, and fell upon those who went for the 
water. Thus I remained more than fifteen days, think- 

48 



374 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

ing I could bring them over by kind acts, and with the 
hope that seeing the good treatment of those who came 
in, they might be induced to follow their example ; but 
they had so much confidence in the security afforded by 
their lakes, on which they abode, that none of them would 
come. When I discovered that nothing was gained in 
this way, I began to seek a remedy ; besides the canoes 
that we had there from the beginning, we took others, 
and by means of them landed horses and men on the 
other side of the river during the night, without being ob- 
served by the enemy. I passed over myself, leaving the 
camp carefully guarded ; and as soon as we were dis- 
covered, a large body of the enemy came up and attacked 
us with greater vigor and boldness than I have ever wit- 
nessed since I have been in this country; they killed two 
horses, and wounded more than ten others so badly that 
they were unable to go. By the aid of our Lord, how- 
ever, we succeeded in routing them, and pursued them 
about a league, when many of their number perished. 
With about thirty horse that remained to me, and a hundred 
foot, I still continued advancing, and at night lodged in 
a town three leagues from my camp, which was desert- 
ed by its inhabitants; in the temple of this place several 
articles were found that belonged to the party of Fran- 
cisco de Garay, who were killed by the natives. 

The next day I advanced along the coast of a lake to 
find a passage to the other side, where we saw inhabi- 
tants and towns ; but we spent the whole day without 
discovering any end to the lake, or place where we could 
cross it. About the hour of vespers we came in sight of 
a handsome town, and proceeded towards it; it was 
situated on the shore of the lake, and when we arrived 
at the place, it was already evening, and no inhabitants 
were seen. But to insure our safety, I ordered ten horse- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 375 

men to enter the town by the road to the right, while I 
with ten others took the other course leading down to- 
wards the lake ; the remaining ten horse were to bring 
up the rearguard, and had not yet arrived. On entering 
the place there appeared to be a great number of people 
concealed in ambush within the houses, in order to take 
us by surprise ; who attached us with such spirit, that 
they killed a horse and wounded almost all the others be- 
sides many Spaniards. They fought with great method, 
and the battle lasted a long time ; although repulsed 
three or four times, they formed again each time, and 
kneeling upon the ground in a circle, without speaking 
or uttering any sound, waited for us to come up, when 
they poured into us a shower of arrows, which flew so 
thick that if we had not been protected by armor not one 
of us w^ould have escaped unhurt. At length it pleased 
our Lord that some of the enemy, who were nearest to a 
stream that flowed into the lake along which I had march- 
ed all day, threw themselves into the water, when others 
behind them also began to run towards the stream, and 
thus a general rout took place, though they only fled to 
the other side of the river. Thus we remained until 
night closed in, they on one side and we on the other side 
of the river, which was too deep for us to cross in pur- 
suit of them, though we were not sorry to have them pass 
it. So we returned to the town, which was about a sling's 
throw from the river ; where we stayed that night as well 
guarded as possible, and consumed the horse the enemy 
had killed, having no other provision. The next day, as 
the inhabitants did not appear, we took a road that led 
to three or four towns, in which no people were found, 
nor any thing else except some store-rooms for wine, cou" 



p76 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

taining a goodly number of jars of that beverage.* During 
that day we fell in with none of the inhabitants, and slept 
in the country, where we found some fields of maize, 
with which our men and horses were somewhat refresh- 
ed ; and in this manner I proceeded for two or three 
days, seeing no one although we passed several towns, 
until overcome by the want ^ food, (having had during 
all this time but fifty pounds of bread amongst us all,) we 
returned to the camp, where I found our people in good 
condition, not having encountered the enemy during our 
absence. It occurred immediately to me that all the inhabi- 
tants of this quarter had gone to that part of the lake which I 
had been unable to cross ; I therefore at night embarked 
some men and horses in canoes to go in that direction, while 
the bowmen and musketeers went up the lake, and the 
rest of the people proceeded by land. In this manner 
the combined force attacked a large town, in which 
many of the enemy were surprised and slain; in conse- 
quence of which, finding there was no safety for them 
although surrounded by water, being still liable to unex- 
pected assaults, they began to sue for peace ; and thus 
in about twenty days the whole country was subdued, 
and the inhabitants submitted themselves as vassals of 
your Majesty. 

As soon as peace had been thus established, I commis- 
sioned several persons to visit every part of this region, 
and to bring me a report of the towns and inhabitants ; 
when this was done, I sought for the best location that I 
could find, where I planted a town, with the name of 
Santistevan deL Puerto. In addition to those who desi- 
red to remain there to inhabit the new town, I transferred 

* Probably the same kind of liquor still made in that quarter from the sugar-cane. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 377 

to the place in your Majesty's name the inhabitants of 
several villages ; and having appointed alcaldes and re- 
gidores, I left there my lieutenant as captain together with 
thirty horse and one hundred foot, and also a shallop and 
fishing boat, that had been brought to me from Vera 
Cruz, to enable them to provide themselves with supplies. 
A servant of mine had sent me from the same place a 
ship loaded with meat, bread, wine, oil, vinegar, and 
other things, which was wholly lost, and three of the 
crew yet remained on a small island in the sea five leagues 
from land; for when I afterwards sent a brigantine, 
they were found alive, having sustained themselves by 
feeding upon sea-wolves, and a fruit which they called 
figs.* 

I assure your Majesty that this expedition cost me 
alone more than 30,000 pesos of gold, as can be made 
to appear to your Majesty by the rendition of the ac- 
counts ; and it cost my companions as much more for 
horses, provisions, arms, and horse-shoes, the latter being 
worth at that time their weight in gold, and twice their 
weight in silver. But when we considered that so great 
an extent of country was reduced to your Majesty's ser- 
vice, it appeared to us a happy result, even should a 
greater expense have been incurred ; because, besides 
placing these Indians under the imperial sway of your 
Majesty, a ship had afterwards arrived there with many 
people on board and a great supply of provisions, and 
discharged her cargo, which they could not have done 
under other circumstances ; for if peace had not been 
established, not a soul could have escaped. Such had 
been the fate of another ship, whose company were all 

* Probably the nopal or Indian fig, the fruit of a species of cactus. The sea- 
wolves (.^labos marinos') were doubtless seals, sometimes called sea-dogs. 



37S LETTERS OF CORTES. 

massacred ; and we had found the faces of the Spaniards 
flayed in their temples, that is to say, their skins pre- 
served in such a manner that many of them could be 
recognized. Even when the Adelantado Francisco de 
Garay arrived in this country, as I shall hereafter relate 
to your Majesty, neither himself nor any who came with 
him would have escaped alive ; for being compelled by 
stress of weather to land thirty leagues below the river 
Panuco, where they lost some of their ships, and all 
were driven ashore in distress, they would have perished 
if the people on the coast had not been at peace with us, 
who took pains to convey them to a Spanish town. Thus 
it is of no slight advantage to have this land in the en- 
joyment of peace. 

In a preceding part of this despatch, most excellent 
Prince, I stated that when on my return from the reduc- 
tion of the province of Panuco, I had conquered the pro- 
vince of Tututepeque, which had rebelled, at the same 
time relating all that took place on that occasion ; when 
I received information respecting a province near the 
South Sea, called Impilcingo, of the same character as 
that of Tututepeque, rendered strong by sierras and the 
inequality of the ground, and inhabited by a people not 
less warlike, who had done much injury to the vassals 
of your imperial Majesty, their neighbors ; the latter had 
come to me with their complaints to solicit aid. Although 
my troops were somewhat wearied, and the distance 
from one sea to the other by that route was two hundred 
leagues, I immediately detached twenty-five horse and 
seventy or eighty foot, under the command of a captain, 
and ordered them to proceed to that province. In the 
instructions that he carried, I directed him to labor to 
draw them by gentle means to the service of your High- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 379 

ness ; but if unsuccessful, to make war upon them. He 
proceeded thither, and had several encounters with the 
enemy ; but on account of the rough nature of the coun- 
try he was unable to subdue the whole. I had also 
ordered him in my instructions to go to the city of Zaca- 
tula, and with what force he had, and such additional 
strength as he could raise, to march to the province of 
Coliman, where, as I have already related, the people 
had defeated a captain and his party, who had gone 
from the province of Mechuacan to that city ; and that 
he should endeavor to draw them by friendly means, 
and if these were insufficient, to conquer them. He 
accordingly went thither, and the force he carried with 
what he took on the way amounted to fifty horse, and 
one hundred and fifty foot. He visited the province con- 
taining the city of Zacatula, on the coast of the South 
Sea, sixty leagues below ; on his route to the province he 
established peace amongst some hostile towns. When 
he reached the quarter where the other captain had been 
defeated, he found many warriors collected, expecting 
his arrival, and thinking to have the same success with 
him as the former ; and thus they met. But it pleased 
our Lord that our people should gain the victory without 
the loss of a single man, although many were wounded, 
both men and horses ; and the enemy paid dearly for 
the mischief they had committed. This chastisement 
had a good effect, as without further hostilities peace 
was restored to the whole country ; and not only this 
province, but many others adjoining it, offered them- 
selves as vassals of your imperial Majesty, namely, 
Aliman, Colimonte, and Ceguatan. He wrote me from 
thence an account of all that had occurred ; and I sent 
him directions to seek a good site on which he should 



380 1.ETTBRS OF CORTES. 

establish a town, and give it the name of Coliman, from 
the province ; and I forwarded him a hst of alcaldes 
and regidores for it. I also directed him to visit the 
towns and people of those provinces, and bring me a 
particular description of the country so far as he could 
obtain a knowledge of it ; which he accordingly brought 
on his return, together with specimens of pearls that he 
found. In the name of your Majesty I transferred the 
population of the villages in these provinces to the new 
town, where I left a force of twenty-five horse and one 
hundred and twenty foot. The relation he brought of 
the country contained information of an excellent harbor 
which was found on that coast, which afforded me much 
pleasure, as there are few harbors there ; and he also 
brought me an account of the lords of the province of 
Ciguatan, in which there is affirmed to be an island 
inhabited by women without any men, although at cer- 
tain times they are visited by men from the main land ; 
and if the women bear female children they are pro- 
tected, but if males they are driven from their society. 
This island is ten days' journey from that province, and 
many have gone there and seen it.* They also tell me 
it is very rich in pearls and gold ; respecting which I 
shall labor to obtain the truth, and to give your Majesty 
a full account of it. 

On my way from the province of Panuco, there met 
me at a city called Tuzapan two Spaniards, whom to- 
gether with several natives of the city of Temextitan and 
others of the province of Soconusco, (which is on the 
upper part of the coast of the South Sea, towards where 



* California is supposed to be the island referred to, afterwards discovered to 
be a peninsula. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 381 

Pedrarias Davila, a governor of your Highness, resides,)* 
I had sent to certain cities of which I had long heard, 
called CJtlatlan and Guatemala, distant two hundred 
leagues from this great city of Temextitan, and seventy 
leagues beyond the province of Soconusco. With these 
Spaniards came about a hundred natives of those cities, 
by the command of their caciques, offering themselves as 
vassals and subjects of your Imperial Majesty, whom I 
received in your royal name ; and I assured them, that 
as long as they proved true to their professions, they 
would be well treated and favored by me, and those 
associated with me, in the royal name of your Highness. 
I gave them, as presents for themselves and their lords 
such things as I had which are held in e&teem amongst 
them, and I determined to send with them two other 
Spaniards, in order to make the necessary provision for 
their journey. Since then I have been informed by some 
Spaniards whom I have in the province of Soconusco, 
that those cities with their provinces, and another called 
Chicapan, in their neighborhood, no longer entertain the 
loyal disposition they at first manifested, but have even 
annoyed some towns of Soconusco, because they are 
friendly to us. On the other hand, however, the Chris- 
tians write that they have sent messengers to them, and 
that they disclaim those acts, which they say were com- 
mitted by others ; and in order to ascertain the truth of 
the matter, I have despatched Pedro de Alvarado with 
eighty and more horse and two hundred foot, amongst 
whom are many bowmen, musketeers^ and four pieces 
of artillery, with an abundance of munitions and powder. 

* Pedrarias Davila was then governor of the isthmus of Darien, and is noted as 
the rival of Balboa, the discoverer of the South Sea, who was executed by his 
orders in 1517. 

49 



382 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

At the same time I have fitted out a naval armament, 
under the command of one Cristobal Dolid, who came 
over with me, to coast along the North Sea, and establish 
a colony at the point or cape of Hibueras [Honduras,] 
sixty leagues from the Bay of Ascension, which is to the 
windward of what they call Yucatan, and on the coast 
above Terra-Firma towards Darien. The object of this 
expedition was to obtain information about the country, 
which is represented to be very rich, and also in reference 
to the opinion entertained by many pilots, that through 
this bay a passage may be found to the other sea ; the 
thing that of all others in the world I most desire to meet 
with, on account of the great service that would result 
from it to your Imperial Majesty. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 383 



CHAPTER III. 

While these two captains were on the point of set- 
ting forth on their respective rootes, a messenger arrived 
from Santistevan del Puerto, the town I had settled on 
the river Panuco, who brought me advices from the al- 
caldes of that place, that the Adelantado Francisco de 
Garay had arrived at that river with a force consisting 
of one hundred and twenty horse, four hundred foot, 
and much artillery, and that he bore the title of gover- 
nor of the country, as he had informed the natives by 
means of an interpreter he brought with him ; to whom 
he had announced his intention to avenge the wrongs 
they had suffered from me in the past war, declaring to 
them that they should go with him to drive out the Span- 
iards I had posted there, and any others I should send, 
in all which matters he said he would aid them, and 
many other scandalous things, which had produced some 
disturbance amongst the natives. They added that in 
confirmation of my suspicions of a confederacy between 
him, the admiral, and Diego de Velasquez,* a ship had 
arrived in the river a few days after from the island of 
Cuba, in which came certain friends and servants of 
Diego Velasquez, and a servant of the Bishop of Bur- 
gos, (the latter being said to have been appointed factor 
of Yucatan,) nearly the whole party consisting of ser- 
vants and relatives of Diego Velasquez, and servants of 
the admiral. As soon as this inteUigence reached me, 

* See above, page 372. 



3S4: LETTERS OF CORTES. 

although I was suffering from an injury to my arm occa- 
sioned by a fall from a horse, and kept my bed, I deter- 
mined to go and meet him in order to prevent any dis- 
turbance, and immediately sent forward Pedro de Al- 
varado with all the force prepared for his intended expe- 
dition, proposing to set out myself in two days. When 
my bed and every thing were already on the road, and 
had reached a place ten leagues from this city, where I 
was to go the next day to sleep, there arrived a messen- 
ger from the town of Vera Cruz about midnight, who 
brought me letters received by a ship arrived from Spain, 
containing an order signed with the royal name of your 
Majesty, commanding the said Francisco de Garay to 
desist from any interference on that river where I had 
established a colony, as your Majesty's service was 
promoted by my holding it in your royal name ; for 
which I kiss the feet of your imperial Majesty a hundred 
thousand times. On the reception of this order my 
journey was at an end, which was not a little advantage- 
ous to my health, as I had not slept for sixty days, and 
suffered much pain ; had I gone at that time, my life 
would have been in danger, but I did not regard this, 
esteeming it better to die on that journey than by saving 
my life to be the cause of great scandal and sedition, and 
of the loss of many lives, which would be much noised 
about. I immediately despatched Diego Docampo, 
alcalde mayor, with the order, to follow after Pedro de 
Alvarado, for whom I gave him a letter, directing him 
by no means to approach the place where the Adelan- 
tado's people were, lest it should give rise to some dis- 
turbance. I also directed the alcalde mayor to notify 
the Adelantado of the order, and immediately inform me 
of his answer. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 385 

The alcalde mayor departed with the greatest possible 
haste, and reached the province of Guastecas, through 
which Pedro de Alvarado had passed, who had already 
g-one into the interior of the country. As soon as Pedro 
de Alvarado heard of the arrival of the alcalde mayor, 
and that I had remained at home, he informed him that 
a captain of Francisco deGaray, named Gonzalo Dovalle 
was ravaging the towns of the province with twenty-two 
horse, and creating some disturbance amongst the people ; 
that he had placed scouts along the road where Alvarado 
would have occasion to pass, which led the latter to be- 
lieve that Dovalle meant to attack him ; and in conse- 
quence thereof Alvarado had placed his troops in the best 
order, until he arrived at a place called Laxas, where he 
found Dovalle with his men, wdth whom he at once obtain- 
ed an interview, when he told him that he was acquainted 
with his movements, which had excited his surprise ; 
since the intention of the governor and his captains neither 
w'as, nor had been, to attack them, or do them any 
injury, but rather to favor them, and provide whatever 
their necessities might require ; that since this was so, in 
order that they might feel secure, and no offence be offer- 
ed on one side or the other, he begged it as a favor that 
the arms and horses of his men should be deposited with 
him until matters were finally settled. Whereupon Gon- 
zalo Dovalle disclaimed what had been alleged concern- 
ing his movements, but professed a willingness to do as 
w^as proposed ; so the two captains and most of their men 
came together without any feelings of hostility, or distrust, 
and shared with one another their food and means of en- 
joyment. As soon as the alcalde mayor knew this, he 
sent a secretary of mine that he had taken with him, 
named Francisco de Orduna, to the place where the cap- 



386 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

tains, Pedro de Alvarado and Gonzalo Dovalle, were 
encaraped, with an order to take up the deposit, and re- 
store the arms and horses to each one, informing them 
that it was my intention to assist and, befriend them in 
every way their necessities might require, without giving 
any uneasiness, or disturbing the country by our dissen- 
sions. At the same time the alcalde mayor sent another 
order to Alvarado, bidding him grant them every indul- 
gence, and not to interfere in any way with their affairs 
or cause them any trouble ; with which he accordingly 
complied. 

At this time, most powerful Sire, the ships of the Ade- 
lantado lay at the mouth of the river Panuco, near the 
sea, in an offensive attitude towards the inhabitants of 
the town of Santistevan, which I had built there ; but it 
was three leagues up the river to the place where the 
ships that arrived at the port were accustomed to anchor. 
On this account Pedro de Vallejo, my lieutenant in the 
town, in order to guard against any danger from the ships, 
required their captains and masters to ascend to the har- 
bor, and anchor there in a peaceable manner without dis- 
turbing the country ; at the same time directing that if 
they had any orders from your Majesty to enter or settle 
the country, or of any other purport, they should exhibit 
them, and promising to obey them when exhibited in re- 
lation to whatever your Majesty should command. To 
this requisition those officers gave a formal answer, the 
conclusion of which was that they refused to do what 
was required by the lieutenant. The latter therefore is- 
sued a second order of a similar character, directed to 
the same officers, to which a penalty was added ; to this 
they replied as before. Thus they remained with their 
ships for more than two months at the mouth of the river, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 887 

giving rise to difficulties amongst the Spaniards who re- 
sided there, as well as the natives. At length one Cas- 
tromocho, master of one of the ships, and Martin de San 
Juan Guipuscuano, master of another, sent privately their 
messengers to the lieutenant, informing him that they de- 
sired peace and would obey the commands of the ma- 
gistrate ; they wished therefore the heutenant to come on 
board of the two ships, where they would receive him 
and comply with his orders ; adding that they would find 
means to induce the other ships to adopt the same course. 
The lieutenant therefore resolved to go with only five 
men to those ships ; and when he reached them, he was 
received by the masters ; from thence he sent to the cap- 
tain Juan de Grijalva, the commander of the whole arma- 
ment, who was on board of the flag-ship, requiring him 
to yield obedience to the orders of which the lieutenant 
had before given him notice. He not only refused, but 
directed the other ships to join his own, and when they 
had all collected around the flag-ship, except the two 
abovementioned, he ordered the captains to fire their 
guns upon two ships until they sunk them. As the order 
was publicly given, in the hearing of all, the lieutenant 
commanded the guns of the two ships to be got ready in 
their defence, which was accordingly done. At this mo- 
ment the officers of the ships around the flag-ship refused 
to obey the orders of Juan de Grijalva^ and in the mean 
time Grijalva sent a notary named Vicente Lopez to the 
lieutenant ; after he had delivered his message, the lieu- 
tenant answered, justifying the course he had taken, and 
declaring that he had come with pacific intentions, in 
order to prevent difficulties that would ensue from the 
ships lying outside of the harbor in which it was cus- 
tomary for vessels to anchor, being like pirates in a sus- 



888 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

picious place, as if for the purpose of making a descent 
upon his Majesty's territory, which had an unfavorable 
appearance ; with other remarks of a similar character. 
Such was the effect of the interview on the notary, that 
he returned with the answer to Captain Grijalva, and in- 
formed him of all the lieutenant had said, at the same 
time endeavoring to induce the captain to obey his orders, 
since it was evident that the lieutenant was a magistrate 
appointed by your Majesty for this province, whereas 
Grijalva knew, that neither on the part of Francisco de 
Garay nor his own, had any order been as yet produced 
which the lieutenant and the other burghers of Santiste- 
van were bound to recognise ; and that it was a very 
ugly business for them to approach the territory of your 
imperial Majesty with their ships like pirates. Influenced 
by these arguments. Captain Grijalva and the officers of 
the other ships submitted to the orders of the lieutenant, 
and went up the river to the usual anchorage ground. 
When they had arrived within the harbor, the lieutenant 
directed Juan de Grijalva to be arrested, on account of 
his disobedience of orders. Butwhen my alcalde mayor 
heard of his arrest, he immediately on the day after com- 
manded him to be set at liberty, and together with the 
rest of the party to be kindly treated, forbidding any thing 
belonging to them to be touched ; which order was ac- 
cordingly carried into effect. 

The alcalde mayor also wrote to Francisco de Garay, 
who was in another port ten or twelve leagues distant, 
informing him that I was unable to visit him, but that I 
had sent him with full power to settle our affairs, by ex- 
amining the authority under which each acted, and 
making such a conclusion as would best promote the 
service of your Majesty. As soon as Francisco de 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 389 

Garay, saw the letter of the alcalde mayor, he imme- 
diately came where he was, and was well received, both 
he and his men being supplied with whatever their ne- 
cessities required. Both then conferred together and 
examined the several orders, especially the one your 
Majesty had done me the favor to grant, when the Ade- 
lantado professed his willingness to acquiesce, and agreed 
to take his ships and men, and seek some other place 
for his colony beyond the limits designated in your Ma- 
jesty's order. He also requested that as my disposition 
was friendly towards him, the alcalde mayor would as- 
sist him in collecting his people, as many of those he 
brought with him desired to remain behind, and others 
were out of the way ; and likewise that he would ena- 
ble him to obtain the necessary supplies for his ships and 
men. The alcalde mayor immediately provided every 
thing he asked, and made proclamation in the port where 
were most of those attached to either party, that all per- 
sons who had arrived in the armada of the Adelantado 
Francisco de Garay should follow and rejoin him, under 
the penahy, if a cavalier, of losing his arms and horse, 
and being surrendered as a prisoner to the said Adelan- 
tado ; and if a foot-soldier, of receiving a hundred lashes, 
and being surrendered in like manner. 

The Adelantado also requested the alcalde mayor, in 
consequence of some of his men having sold their arms 
and horses in the port of Santistevan and elsewhere, 
that he would cause them to be returned, since his peo- 
ple would be of no use to him without their arms and 
horses ; and the alcalde mayor had proclamation made 
in all parts where the arms or horses of the people might 
be, and caused those who had purchased them to re- 
turn them all to the said Adelantado. At his desire also 

50 



390 ijEtters of cortes. 

the alcalde mayor stationed alguazils on the roads to ar- 
rest fugitives, and deliver them up as prisoners ; many 
of whom were accordingly taken and delivered into cus- 
tody. He also sent the alguazil mayor with one of my 
secretaries to the town and port of Santistevan,* for the 
purpose of using similar diligence in making proclama- 
tion, and collecting the people who were absent and de- 
livering them up, as well as to obtain supplies to the 
greatest possible extent for the ships of the Adelantado. 
AH this was effected with the greatest diligence, and the 
Adelantado set out for the port to embark ; but the al- 
calde mayor remained behind with his people in order 
not to increase the number at the port, and the better to 
furnish the supplies of provisions ; and he continued 
there six or seven days to see that his orders were all 
obeyed, as there was a deficiency of provisions. He 
then wrote to the Adelantado to know if he had any 
commands, as he was about to return to the city of 
Mexico,t where I resided ; the Adelantado immediately 
sent a messenger to him, by whom he represented that 
he found himself in no condition to depart ; that he had 
lost six of his ships, and those he retained were unfit for 
service ; and that he was engaged in drawing up a state- 
ment of the case in order to apply to me, since he had 
not the means to enable him to leave the country. He 
also represented his people as disputing his authority 
over them, and denying their obligation to follow him, 
having appealed from the orders of my alcalde mayor, 
with which they contended they were not obliged to 

* This town afterwards lost the name of Santistevan (St. Stephen ;) as it 
stood at the mouth of the river, Capt- Lyon errs in identifying its site with that 
of the present town of Panuco, which is eighty miles above. Lyon's Jvurnal, 
&c. L 59. 

t '■'■Ciudad de Mexico ;" this is the only instance in which the name of Mexico 
is applied to the citythat occurs in these Despatches. 



CQNQUEST OF MEXICO. 391 

comply for sixteen or seventeen reasons that they as- 
signed. One of these was, that some of those who ac- 
companied him had died of hunger ; with others of no 
great weight, which they addressed to him personally. 
He likewise stated that all the diligence used in detain- 
ing his men proved of no avail ; that those who were 
with him at night disappeared in the morning, and those 
one day delivered up as prisoners, regained their liberty 
the next day ; and that two hundred men had deserted 
in one night. Finally, he begged in the most piteous 
terms that the alcalde mayor would not set out until he 
had arrived, for he wished to accompany him for the pur- 
pose of meeting me at this city ; and that if he left him 
behind, he thought he should hang himself from vexa- 
tion. 

The alcalde mayor on seeing his letter resolved to wait 
for him ; he arrived in two days, as he had written ; 
when a messenger was despatched to me, by whom the 
alcalde mayor apprised me of the Adelantado's coming 
to see me in this city, and said that they would travel 
slowly until they reached the town of Cicoaque, within 
the limits of these provinces, where he would await my 
answer. The Adelantado also wrote me, describing 
the miserable condition of bis ships, and the bad con- 
duct of his men, and declared his belief that I had it in 
my power to remedy his difficulties by providing him 
with men and other things of which he was in want, but 
that he knew he could not expect assistance from any 
other quarter ; he had therefore determined to come to 
me in person. At the same time he offered me his oldest 
son together with all that he possessed, and hoped that 
he should be able to make him my son-in-law, by 
marrying him to my little daughter. In the mean time 



392 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

it appearing to the alcalde mayor, when on the eve of 
his departure for this city, that certain suspicious per- 
sons, the friends and servants of Diego Velasquez, had 
arrived in the armada of Francisco de Garay, who had 
shown themselves opposed to my operations ; and be- 
lieving that it would not be safe to leave them in the 
province, as they would be likely by their freedom of 
speech to excite uneasiness and disaifection amongst the 
people ; in conformity to a certain royal order which I 
had received from your Majesty, requiring all disorderly 
persons to leave the country, he commanded them to 
depart out of the land ; amongst whom were Gonzalo de 
Figueroa, Alonso de Mendoza, Antonio de la Cerda, Juan 
de Avila, Lorenzo de Ulloa, Taborda, Juan de Grijalva, 
Juan de Medina, and others. After this they set out 
and reached the town of Cicoaque, where the alcalde 
mayor received my answer to his letters, in which I ex- 
pressed my satisfaction at the coming of the Adelantado, 
assuring him that on his arrival in this city I would treat 
with him with the greatest good will on all the subjects 
mentioned in his letter, and that every thing should be 
done conformably to his wishes. At the same time I 
took care that every provision should be made for his 
personal wants on the road, directing the caciques of the 
towns through which he would pass to furnish every 
thing in the most ample manner. When the Adelantado 
arrived in this city I received him with all the kindness, 
both in word and deed, that I could show to a real bro- 
ther ; for I was truly grieved at the loss of his ships and 
the desertion of his men, and freely offered to do all in 
my power for his relief. iVs the Adelantado had ex- 
pressed a strong desire for the fulfilment of what he had 
written to me respecting the marriage aboveraentioi^d, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 393 

and importuned me with great earnestness on the sub- 
ject, I determined to comply with his wishes, by having 
drawn up with the consent of both parties and much 
formaUty, under oath, certain articles for the conclusion 
of the marriage, and the performance of the agreements 
on both sides ; especially providing that your Majesty 
should be assured of its being done in a loyal manner.* 
Thus besides the feelings inspired by our old friendship, 
the connexion entered into by our children gave rise to 
others, producing a mutual good will and a desire to 
promote the welfare of one another, and especially of 
the Adelantado. 

I have already, most powerful Sire, related to your 
Catholic Majesty the great exertions made by my alcalde 
mayor to collect the dispersed people of the Adelantado ; 
these efforts, however, proved insufficient to remove the 
disaffection that prevailed amongst them all; for believ- 
ing that they would be compelled to go with him in obe- 
dience to the order and proclamation that had been made, 
they retired into the interior of the country, and dispersed 
themselves about in different places, in small parties of 
three or six persons, with such privacy that it was im- 
possible to discover their retreats or bring them in. This 
state of things led to difficulties with the Indians of the 
province ; the sight of the Spaniards scattered in various 
directions, and the disorders committed by them in seiz- 
ing the native women and their supplies of food by 
force, with other outrages and irregularities, caused the 



* The daughter of Cortes who was married to a son of Garay, was by his first 
marriage at Cuba. The second wife of Cortes, to whom he is said to have been 
privately married, was Doiia Marina, his Indian interpreter, but some deny that 
he was married to her ; his third wife was Dona Juana de Zuniga, daughter of 
the Count de Aguilar, and niece of the Duke de Bexar. — L. 



394 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

whole land to rise, in the belief that the Spaniards were 
under separate leaders, as the Adelantado had proclaim- 
ed on his arrival in the country through an interpreter 
whom the Indians could understand, as I have already 
stated. The natives had cunning enough to inform them- 
selves first how and where the Spaniards were to be 
found, and then fell upon them by night or day in the 
villages where they were dispersed ; and by this means 
taking them unawares and unprovided with arms, they 
destroyed great numbers of them. Thus their boldness 
rose to such a height that they appeared before the town 
of Santistevan del Puerto, which had been settled in your 
Majesty's name, and attacked it with so much spirit that 
the inhabitants were alarmed lest the place should fall 
into their hands ; as it would have done, had not the peo- 
ple been prepared to receive them, rallying together at 
a point where resistance could be offered in the most 
effectual manner, from which they made several salHes 
upon the enemy and put them to route. When affairs 
had reached this pass, I received news of what had taken 
place by a messenger, a foot-soldier, who had escaped 
by flight from these scenes of disorder, and informed me 
that the whole province of Panuco had revolted, and that 
many Spaniards had been slain, especially of the men 
left there by the Adelantado, together with some of the 
inhabitants of the town I had built there in your Majesty's 
name ; and from the extent of the insurrection I was led 
to believe that not a single Castilian had been left alive. 
God our Lord knows what were my feelings on the re- 
ceipt of this intelligence, especially when I reflected that 
no part of this country had cost us so much, which we 
were now on the point of losing. The Adelantado was so 
much affected by the news, as well on account of his ap- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 395 

pearing to have been the cause of the disaster, as from his 
having a son, and all that he possessed, in that province, 
that his grief caused him to be seized with an illness, of 
which he died three days after. 

The Spaniard who brought the first news of the revolt 
of the people of Panuco, gave no other account of what 
had taken place than that he with three cavaliers and a 
foot-soldier had been attacked while entering a town 
called Tacetuco, [Tanjuco,]* by the inhabitants of that 
place, who killed two of the cavaliers and the foot-sol- 
diers, with the horse of the other cavalier, who had him- 
self escaped together with our informant under cover of 
the night ; and that they had seen consumed by fire the 
quarters occupied by the lieutenant in that town with 
fifteen horsemen and forty foot, where they were expect- 
ed, and from the appearances there exhibited he be- 
lieved all of them had been slain. In order that your 
Maje St}" might be more particularly informed of what 
subsequently occurred, I waited six or seven days after 
obtaining the first news to receive further intelligence ; 
in which time there arrived another messenger from the 
lieutenant, who remained in the town of Tenertequipa, 
which is subject to this city, and situated on the line di- 
viding the Mexican territory from that province. The 
latter wrote me that he was in the town of Tacetuco with 
fifteen horse and forty foot, expecting the arrival of more 
men who were to join his force, as he was going to the 
other side of the river to reduce certain towns that proved 

* Tanjuco is now a small Indian village on the Panuco, 127 miles from its mouth 
by the course of the river, and about half that distance by land. Here Captaia 
Lyon (in 1826) heard the Guasteca language spoken. Journal, &c. 1.73. This 
intelligent traveller made a particular examination of the River Panuco, the re- 
sults of which appear in the Appendix to his Journal. 



396 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

hostile ; and that during the night, just before dawn, his 
quarters were surrounded by a multitude of people, who 
set them on fire ; that they mounted their horses, but 
with so much haste, being taken by surprise, supposing 
the place to be loyal, as it had been until then, that all 
were killed except himself and two other cavaliers, who 
escaped by flight. His horse had been slain, but one of 
the cavaliers had taken him up on his horse behind 
himself, and they had thus made their escape. Two 
leagues from that place they had fallen in with an al- 
calde of the town and several people, from whom they 
received shelter, but did not stop long, for they fled 
in company with him out of the province. He had 
gained no intelligence of the people left in our colony, 
nor of those of Francisco de Garay, who were scattered 
in different directions, none of whom he believed re- 
mained alive; for, as I have informed your Majesty, 
after the Adelantado came there with his company, and 
told the inhabitants of that province that I had no busi- 
ness with them, as he was the governor whom they 
ought to obey, and encouraged them to unite with him 
in driving out of the country the Spaniards who were 
there under my authority, they had annoyed the colony 
and the people I had sent to it, and were never after- 
wards willing to serve a Spaniard. They had murdered 
some whom they met alone on the public roads, and I 
believe had all acted in concert in what they had done ; 
for they had attacked the lieutenant and the people who 
were with him, and probably the inhabitants of the town, 
and all the rest who were dispersed about the villages, 
unsuspicious of any insurrection, as the natives had until 
then served them without the slightest symptoms of ill 
blood. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 397 

Having satisfied myself by this fresh intelhgence of 
the existence of a rebelhon amongst the natives of that 
province, and of the murder of several Spaniards, I de- 
spatched with the greatest possible expedition a force 
consisting of fifty cavaliers and one hundred foot, inclu- 
ding bowmen and musketeers, together with four pieces 
of artiller}', much powder and other munitions, under 
the command of a Spanish captain,* accompanied by 
two natives of this city, each at the head of fifteen thou- 
sand of their countrymen. I directed the captain to 
march with the utmost speed to that province, and exert 
himself to enter it without stopping any where, unless it 
should be absolutely necessary, until he arrived at the 
town of Santistevan del Puerto, in order to obtain intel- 
ligence of the inhabitants and people who had been left 
there ; for it might be that they w^ere invested by the 
enemy, and in want of succor. The captain accordingly 
took up his line of march with all possible expedition, 
and entered the province ; he encountered the enemy in 
two places, but God our Lord granting him the victory, 
he pursued his way until he reached the town, where he 
found twenty-two of the cavalry and one hundred foot 
besieged by the enemy, with whom they had fought six 
or seven engagements ; by means of their artillery they 
had so far succeeded in the defence of the place, although 
unable to hold out much longer, even with the greatest 
exertions in their power ; and if the captain I had sent 
there had delayed his march three days, not one of them 
would have survived, for they were already perishing 
with famine. They had sent to Vera Cruz one of the 
vessels belonging to Francisco de Garay, to carry me in- 

* Gonzalo de Sandoval. 

51 



"398 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

telligence of tbeir situation, (as thei-e was no other way,) 
and to bring them provisions, which they obtained, but 
not until after they had been relieved by the force I sent. 
It was ascertained that the people left by the Adelantado 
Francisco de Garay, in a town called Tamiquil, amount- 
ing to about one hundred Spanish foot and horse, had 
been all cut off, excepting one Indian of the island of 
Jamaica, who escaped by taking refuge in the mountains ; 
from him they learned that the place had been taken in 
the night. It was found that there had perished two 
hundred and ten of the Adelantado's people, and forty- 
three of the citizens left by me in Santistevan, who at 
the time of the massacre were visiting the villages that 
bad been entrusted to their care ; I am inclined to be- 
lieve that there were even more of the Adelantado's peo- 
ple, all of whom were not recollected. 

The force in the province, including the division under 
the captain and the troops with the lieutenant and alcalde, 
together with those found in the town, comprised only 
eighty horse, and being distributed into three detach- 
ments, carried the war with such vigor against the enemy, 
that about four hundred of the caciques and principal 
persons were taken prisoners, without reckoning any of 
the lower class, all of whom, I mean the principal per- 
sons, were burned according to the sentence of the ma- 
gistrate, after they had confessed themselves to have 
been the instigators of the whole war, each one admitting 
that he had been present at the death of Spaniards, and 
concerned in killing them. This done, the others who 
had been made prisoners were set at liberty, and restored 
to their villages ; and the captain in the name of your 
Majesty appointed new caciques in the villages from 
amongst the persons to whom the succession belonged, 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 399 

according to their rules of inheritance.* At this time I 
received letters from the captain and others who were 
with him, assuring me (blessed be our Lord!) that the 
whole province had been restored to peace and security, 
and the natives to their loyalty, and I believe the peace 
will continue undisturbed, the old cause of offence being 
forgotten. Your imperial Highness may well believe 
that these people are of a restless character and easily 
excited by any novelty or seditious movements they 
might witness ; for they were wont also to rebel against 
their caciques, and would always join in any attempts 
that were made to resist their authority. 

In a former section, most Catholic Sire, I stated that 
at the time I heard of the arrival of the Adelantado 
Francisco de Garay at the river Panuco, I had in readi- 
ness a fleet of vessels, filled with men, destined for the 
cape or point of Hibueras, [Honduras,] and the causes 
that led to the proposed expedition ; which was, how- 
ever, abandoned on the arrival of the Adelantado, in 



* The late R. C. Sands, in his memoir of Cortos, regards it as a matter of 
doubt how many suffered death on this occasion. About four hundred caciques 
and principal persons were made prisoners, " all of whom," says Cortes, " I 
mean the principal persons, were burnt according to the sentence of the magis- 
trate," &c. From this statement Sands endeavors to make it appear that none of 
the caciques suffered, and it being left uncertain what was the relative propor- 
tion of " principal persons" amongst the four hundred, it was also uncertain 
how many were put to death, but certainly less than four hundred. In support 
of this construction he quotes Herrera, who says that only thirty were burnt, and 
the rest pardoned. But unluckily for this view of the matter, Cortes expressly 
adds that new caciques were appointed to succeed to the vacancies created at 
the time ; so that his expression, " principal persons," must have been used in 
the second instance in contradistinction to the common people, and thus included 
the caciques. Gomara confirms this account ; who also describes the sentence 
and execution as the result of a civil process, and not as " a religious exercise," 
as stated by Sands. The relatives of the criminals were made to witness their 
fate to deier them from similar offences, and then they were immediately invested 
with the vacant seignories. — Cron. Nuev. Esp. Cap. 155. 



400 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the belief that should he undertake to possess himself of 
the country, the whole force would be required to oppose 
him. After having disposed of the Adelantado, although 
a great expense would be incurred for the pay of soldiers 
and mariners, and to procure supplies for the ships and 
the troops that were to sail in them, yet it appeared to 
me of so great importance to your Majesty's service, 
that I pursued the enterprise which had been commenced, 
and purchased more ships than I already had, making 
in all five large ships and a brigantine ; and I raised 
four hundred men, who were provided with artillery, 
munitions, arms, victuals, and every thing else necessary 
for them. I also sent two agents to the island of Cuba 
with 8000 pesos of gold, to purchase horses and pro- 
visions, both for the first voyage, and to be in readiness 
for loading the ships on their return from the expedition, 
so that the objects of it might not fail of accomplishment 
for the want of any thing, as well as to avoid oppressing 
the natives by requiring supplies of them ; that we might 
even have it in our power to bestow on them what we 
should take with us rather than deprive them of what 
they possessed. Thus the expedition departed from the 
port of San Juan de Chalchiqueca,* on the 11th of Jan- 
uary, 1524, having to touch at the Havana, the place on 
the island of Cuba where they were to obtain the sup- 
plies that were wanting, especially horses, and for the 
ships to rendezvous, in order to proceed together with 
the blessing of God from thence to the place of their 
destination. On reaching the first port in the country to 
which the expedition was sent, they were to disembark 
men, horses, provisions and every thing else, and seek 
the most favorable site that offered, to be fortified with 

* The Indian name of the present Vera Cruz. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 401 

artillery, (of which they took a great deal of the best 
kind,) and for the settlement of a colony. They were 
then to despatch at once three of the larger ships to the 
port of Trinidad in the island of Cuba, as most con- 
veniently situated on their route, and where an agent 
was to be left to get ready a cargo of such things as 
they required, for which the captain should send. The 
snaaller ships and the brigantine wath the principal pilot 
and a cousin of mine named Diego Hurtado, for captain, 
were to run along the coast of the Bay of Ascension in 
quest of the strait that was believed to be there, and to 
remain until they had explored every part of it ; and in 
case they discovered the strait, they should return to the 
place where captain Cristobal Dolid was, and from 
thence despatch one of the ships to me with an account 
of the discovery, and all the information Cristobal Dolid 
might have acquired concerning the countr}'-, and also 
the occurrences of the expedition ; in order that I might 
be able to forward a full report thereof to your Catholic 
Majesty. 

I also stated that I had prepared to send a party under 
the command of Pedro de Alvarado to the cities of Ucla- 
clan [Utlatlan] and Guatemala, of which I have made 
mention above, and to some other provinces concerning 
which I had received information, that were situated 
farther up the coast than the former ; this proposed ex- 
pedition was also suspended by the arrival of the Ade- 
lantado Francisco de Gara}^ But as I had already been 
at much expense, both in horses, arms, artillery and mu- 
nitions, and in advancing their pay to the men ; and as I 
believed that the service of God our Lord and your sa- 
cred Majesty would be promoted by it, since from the 
information I had received I had reason to think we 



402 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

should discover lands of extraordinary richness and ex- 
lent, inhabited by many different people ; I therefore re- 
solved to adhere to my original purpose, and besides 
availing myself of the provision before made for the ex- 
pedition, I re-appointed Pedro de Alvarado to command 
it ; whom I accordingly despatched fram this city on the 
sixth of December, 1523. He took with him one hundred 
and twenty cavaliers, making with the led horses one 
hundred and sixty horses in all ; and three hundred foot, 
including one hundred and thirty bowmen and mus- 
keteers ; together with four pieces of artillery and a large 
quantity of powder and other munitions of war. He was 
accompanied by several of the principal natives, both of 
this city and other neighboring cities, who were followed 
by their people, but not in great numbers, on account of 
the extensive route of the expedition. 

I received news of them when they had reached the 
province of Tecuantepeque, in good condition, on the 
twelfth of January ; may it please our Lord to guide 
them all in the way to promote his service; for I believe 
fully, that being devoted to his service, and acting in the 
name of your imperial Majesty, they cannot fail to have 
good success. I also charged Pedro de Alvarado to take 
especial care to draw up a full and particular account of 
whatever should occur, that I might transmit it to your 
Highness. I consider it certain, according to the infor- 
mation I have concerning the country and its configuration, 
that Pedro de Alvarado and Cristobal Dolid will meet, 
unless the strait divides them. Many journeys would 
have been made to that country, and I should have ac- 
quired much knowledge of it, had not the disturbances 
occasioned by the arrival of armadas prevented. I assure 
your sacred Majesty that, owing to this cause, great in- 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 403 

jury has arisen to the royal service, as well in our not 
being able to prosecute the discovery of many countries, 
as in having failed to amass for the royal exchequer large 
amounts of gold and pearls ; but henceforth, if I have no 
more difficulties of a similar character to contend with, 
I shall labor to restore what has been lost ; for I shall not 
spare any personal exertions, nor hesitate to expend my 
own private means, for the accomplishment of this object. 
And I assure your imperial and sacred Majesty, that be- 
sides having expended all that I possessed, I owe your 
Majesty for the rents that I have applied to these charges, 
as will appear when the accounts are rendered to your 
Majesty, more than sixty thousand pesos of gold, exclu- 
sive of twelve thousand more which I have borrowed 
from several persons for my domestic expenses. 

I have mentioned in a former place that some of the 
provinces adjacent to Espiritu Santo, and those tributary 
to that colony, had rebelled, and even taken the lives of 
several Spaniards ; and that for the purpose of reducing 
them to the royal service of your Majesty, as well as to 
lead others to embrace it, the people in that colony not 
being adequate to the undertaking, I had sent thither a 
captain with thirty horse and a hundred foot, some of 
whom were bowmen and musketeers, with two pieces 
of artillery, and a sufficient supply of munitions and 
powder ; who accordingly took up the line of march on 
the eighth of December, 1523. Up to the present time 
I have had no accounts from them ; but I think great 
advantages will be derived from that quarter to the ser- 
vice of God our Lord and your Majesty, and that valu- 
able discoveries will be made ; for it is a section of 
country that lies between the conquests of Pedro de 
Alvarado and those of Cristobal Dolid ; and that part of 



404 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

it lying towards the North Sea, which is of small extent, 
has been of a pacific character until lately, and in the 
quiet possession of your Majesty by conquest. When 
this is reduced, there will be more than four hundred 
leagues of uninterrupted territory subject to the royal 
service in the north, and more than five hundred leagues 
in the south, extending from one sea to the other ; all of 
which is undisturbed in its allegiance, excepting two 
provinces, situated in the midst of Teguantepeque, Chi- 
nanta, Guaxaca, and Guazaqualco, by which four pro- 
vinces they are bounded on all sides. The inhabitants of 
these two districts are called Zaputecas and Mixes, who 
occupy a country so rough in its character that it is im- 
possible to penetrate it even on foot ; nevertheless I 
made two attempts to conquer them, but without success. 
They are defended by strong fortresses, a mountainous 
region, and substantial weapons ; they fight with lances 
from twenty-five to thirty palms in length, very stout 
and well made, pointed with flint. In defending them- 
selves they killed a number of Spaniards ; and they are 
constantly doing mischief to their neighbors who are 
vassals of your Majesty, attacking and burning their vil- 
lages by night, and murdering the inhabitants ; and 
many of the adjoining districts have been induced to 
throw off their allegiance and become their confederates* 
As I had made so little progress against them, although 
I had no men to spare, so many having gone on different 
expeditions, I mustered one hundred and fifty foot, (the 
cavalry not being able to manoeuvre in that region,) con- 
sisting for the most part of bowmen and musketeers, 
together with four pieces of artillery and the necessary 
munitions, the bowmen and musketeers being provided 
in the most liberal manner. I placed this force under 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 405 

the command of Rodrigo Rangel, alcalde of this city, 
who went on a similar expedition against the same peo- 
ple a year ago, but on account of its being the rainy 
season was unable to effect any thing, and returned, 
after an absence of two months. This captain set out 
with his party on the fifth of February of the present 
year, [1524] ; and I trust that by the favor of God, 
having a good force, and going at a favorable season, 
accompanied by a large number of native warriors, 
skilled in arms, both of this city and its vicinity, success 
will attend him ; from' which no little service will re- 
dound to the imperial crown of your Highness, as the 
people in question not only refuse allegiance, but annoy 
those who are well disposed towards us. The country 
is also very rich in mines of gold ; and the neighboring 
people say that when they are reduced they will go and 
take their gold from them, on account of their having 
been so rebellious ; although often required to yield obe- 
dience, and having on one occasion even offered them- 
selves as vassals of your Highness^ they had yet killed 
several Spaniards, and committed so much mischief, 
that they deserved to be made slaves. I therefore 
ordered that those who were taken alive should be 
marked with the brand of your Highness, and after set- 
ting apart the number appertaining to your Majesty, the 
rest should be distributed amongst their conquerors. 
Your royal Excellency may consider it certain that the 
smallest of these expeditions which have just been fitted 
out has cost me more than 5000 pesos of gold ; and that 
the two under Pedro de Alvarado and Cristobal Dolid 
have cost me more than 50,000 pesos in money, without 
reckoning other charges on my estates, which are not 
carried to the account. But should all this tend to ad- 

52 



406 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

vance the service of your imperial Majesty, I shall con- 
sider it a sufficient recompense, even if it require also a 
sacrifice of my life, which shall ever be at your Majesty's 
disposal. 

Both in a former despatch, and in the present one, I 
have made mention to your Highness of four ships, which 
I had commenced building on the South Sea ; and as it 
is a long time since the work was commenced, it may 
appear to your royal Highness that I have been some- 
what dilatory in not having them completed up to the 
present time ; I owe your sacred Majesty, therefore, 
some explanation of the delay. One cause is that the 
South Sea, at least that part of it where these ships are 
building, is two hundred leagues and more distant from 
the ports of the North Sea, where every thing is landed 
that comes into New Spain ; and the route is in part by 
mountain passes, and across large and full rivers ; and 
as all the materials necessary in building must be brought 
from thence, there being no other way to obtain them, the 
transportation which I have caused to be made is at- 
tended with much difficulty. Add to this, that the house 
at the port where the ships are building, which contained 
all the requisite materials, such as sails, cables, rigging, 
nails, anchors, pitch, islush, oakum, tar, oil, &c., one 
night was set on fire, and every thing consumed except 
what was incapable of being burnt. I am now em- 
ployed in collecting my materials anew ; for a vessel ar- 
rived here four months ago from Castile, bringing me 
every thing necessary for completing the ships, for which 
1 had sent, fearing that some accident might happen. I 
assure your imperial Majesty that these ships, although 
they have not touched the water, have cost me more than 
8000 pesos of gold beside extra expenses ; but, praise to 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 407 

our Lord, they are in such a state that they will be ready 
to sail on the first day of Pentecost, or St. John's day in 
June, if we should have a sufficient supply of tar ; all 
that I had before was destroyed by the fire, and I have 
not yet been able to replace it ; but I expect before that 
time to have some brought from those districts from 
which I have made arrangements to have it sent to me. 
To these ships I attach an importance I am unable to 
express ; for I consider it certain that by means of them, 
if it please God our Lord, your imperial Majesty will 
become lord of more realms and states in these parts 
than there exists any knowledge of in our nation to the 
present time ; and that if it please God to guide your 
Majesty to the attainment of this great object, I believe 
nothing more will be wanting to make your Highness 
monarch of the world. 



408 LETTERS OF COETES. 



CHAPTER V. 

Although it has pleased God our Lord that this great 
city of Temixtitarj should fall into our hands, it seemed 
best to me not to reside in it for the present,on account of 
many inconveniences ; and I removed with all our peo- 
ple to thetown of Cuyijacan, situated on the coast of the 
lake, of which I have made piention. But as I always 
desired that this city should be rebuilt, in consequence 
of its grandeur and worjderful situation, I labors 
ed to collect together its native inhabitants whom 
the war had disperse^d in various directions ; and 
although I had constantly retained its caciqjie a 
prisoner, and still continued to do so, I caused a 
captain-general whom I had taken during the war, and 
had known from the time of Muteczuma, to superintend 
the re-peopling ,of the city.* In order that this person 
might have greater authority, I restored to him the same 
office he had held in the time of the cacique, which was 
that of Ciguacoat, meaning " the lieutenant of the cacique ;" 
and to other principal persons whom I had also known 
before, I gave a share in the government of the city, such 
as they had beeii accustomed to exercise. I also assign- 
ed to the Ciguacoat and the rest landed districts and peo- 
ple for their support, although not of so great an extent 
as they had before enjoyed, nor sufficient to enable them 
to do any mischief at a future period. I constantly en- 

* Gomara says that Cortes set at liberty Jihucoa, a captain-general, and gave 
him charge of the people and the construction of houses, and jurisdiction over 
a ward of the city. A son of Jtlontezuma was employed in a similar manner. — 
Cron. Nuev. Esp. Cap. 162. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 409 

deavored to confer on them honor and favor ; and they , 
exerted themselves with such effect that there are at this 
time thirty thousand householders in the city, and as much 
order in their markets and places of business as was wont 
to prevail. I allowed them so many liberties and privi- 
leges, that every day accessions were made to the popu- 
lation ; for they lived very much as they pleased. Those 
who practised the mechanic arts, of whom there were 
great numbers, subsisted on the wages they obtained from 
the Spaniards ; such as carpenters, masons, stonecutters, 
silversmiths, &c. The merchants were in the secure 
possession of their goods, and succeeded in selling them ; 
some people obtained a livelihood as fishmongers, which 
is a great business in this city ; others cultivate the 
ground, many of whom have their gardens in which they 
raise all the garden-stufFof Spain, so far as they have 
been able to obtain the seeds. And I assure your im- 
perial Majesty that if they had the plants and seeds of 
Spain, and your Highness were pleased to order us to 
supply them, as in my former despatch I begged you. to 
do, so fond are the natives of these parts of cultivating 
the earth and raising plants, that in a short time there 
would be a great abundance, from which I think no little 
advantage would result to the imperial crown of your 
Highness ; for it would be the cause of perpetuating your 
authority in this land, increasing the rents of your sacred 
Majesty, and rendering more extensive the dominions 
which your Highness in the name of God our Lord already 
possesses ; to effect which your Highness may be as- 
sured no exertions will be wanting on my part, but that 
I shall labor for it with all the strength and power that I 
can command. 

As soon as the city was taken, I immediately set to 



410 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

work to build a fortress in the water on one side of the 
city, within which the brigantines might be secure, and 
from which the whole city could be attacked if necessary ; 
and that by means of it I might have the power to go out, 
or come in, as often as I wished ; it was accordingly 
built. Although I have seen some arsenals and fortres- 
ses, I have never seen any equal to this ; and many others 
who have inspected it say the same. It is constructed 
in the following manner : the part that is situated towards 
the lake consists of two towers of great strength, with 
their embrasures in the appropriate places ; one of these 
towers projects on one side beyond the curtain, and is 
filled with embrasures that sweep the curtain ; the other 
tower is situated in the same manner on the other side. 
Between the two towers rises the main building, within 
which the brigantines enter, having a door of exit and en- 
trance between the two towers towards the water ; and 
the whole main building is also provided with embrasures, 
and on its summit towards the city there is another very 
large tower, with many apartments above and beloW, 
from which the city can be attacked or defended. But 
as I shall send your Majesty a drawing of this structure, 
for the better understanding of it, I shall mention no more 
particulars, except that its character is such as to place 
in our power peace or war, which ever we may desire, 
the ships as well as artillery being contained within it. 
This being completed, it appeared to me that I could now 
safely settle our people in the city, as I was desirous of 
doing, and I therefore removed to it with my whole com- 
pany. The ground was distributed among the house- 
holders ; and to each of the conquerors I gave in the 
name of your royal Highness an additional lot, (which 
they had merited by their exertions,) besides what was 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 411 

given to them as householders, for which they are obhged 
to make some return in the nature of rent, as is the cus- 
tom in these parts. So much expedition was used in 
building houses, that many of them were already finished, 
and others well advanced ; and great quantities of stone, 
lime, wood and brick are collected, which the natives 
procure, and from which they all build such large, fine 
houses, that your sacred Majesty may be assured this 
will be in five years' time the most noble and populous 
city, and the best built in the whole world.* The quar- 
ter of the city inhabited by the Spaniards is separated by 
an arm of water from that of the natives, although in all 
the streets that cross the town there are wooden bridges 
by means of which one quarter communicates with an- 
other. There are two great markets for the natives, one 
in their quarter and the other in that of the Spaniards ; 
in these may be found all kinds of provisions that the 
country affords, for they bring them here for sale from 
every part of the land ; and they want nothing of what 
they enjoyed in the time of their prosperity. It is true, 
however, that neither jewels of gold or silver, nor feather- 
work, or any other rich articles, are to be obtained as 
formerly except little trinkets of gold and silver, but even 
these not as in former times. ,_. 

In consequence of the misunderstanding kept up with 
me by Diego Velasquez, and the unfriendly feeling mani- 
fested through his means towards me by Don Juan de 

* Cortes erected a magnificent palace for himself on the site of that of Monte- 
zuma, in the construction of which seven thousand cedar logs are said to have 
been used ; on which account, says Gomara, he was accused by Panfilo de Nar- 
baez of having stripped the mountain forests of all their cedar trees. But he 
justly adds, that quantity of timber is nothing in a country where the mountains 
are covered with cedar ; the logs are often one hundred and twenty feet lonz, 
and twelve feet in diameter. 



412 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Fonseca, bishop of Burgos, the board of trade, and es- 
pecially the auditor Juan Lopez de Recalde, on whom in 
the time of the bishop every thing depended, in obedience 
to the orders of Fonseca, neglected to provide me with 
artillery and other arms as necessity required, notwith- 
standing I often remitted money for the purpose. But 
there is nothing that whets the ingenuity of man more 
than necessity, which in my case was extreme as well 
as desperate, since they did not permit your Majesty to 
know my situation. I labored therefore to find means to 
save from total loss what had been gained at the expense 
of so much toil and danger, which would involve so great 
disservice to God our Lord and your imperial Majesty,, 
and peril to all of us who were in the country. To this 
end I made inquiries in several provinces for copper, 
and offered a liberal exchange for it in the way of barter, 
as the easiest means of obtaining it. Large quantities of 
this metal were accordingly brought to me, which I put 
into the hands of a master-workman that I found here, 
for the purpose of being cast into cannon. Two pieces 
of the size of half-culverins were the result of this attempt, 
and for their caliber no cannon could surpass them. But 
although I had a plenty of copper, there was no tin, with- 
out which the cannon could not be made ; but for the two 
pieces I had procured, at considerable expense, dishes 
and other vessels that were composed of it, which though 
purchased at a high price could not be obtained cheaper. 
I then instituted inquiries in every direction for this me- 
tal, and it pleased our Lord, (who ever protects us, and 
provides speedily for our wants,) that amongst the na- 
tives of a province called Tachco [Tazco] I should meet 
with little pieces of it resembling very small coins ; and 
continuing my researches^ I found it was used as money 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 418 

both in that province and others.* On tracing the mat- 
ter still further, I ascertained that it was procured from 
mines in Tachco, twenty-six leagues from this city, to 
which I immediately despatched some Spaniards with 
tools, who brought me specimens of it. After this I gave 
orders for obtaining from that source all that was neces- 
sary, which was accordingly done, though with great 
labor. In searching for this metal, a rich vein of iron 
ore was met with, according to the information of per- 
sons who assert their knowledge of the fact. 
"" Having thus obtained a supply of tin, I have caused 
cannon to be founded, and every day several pieces are 
cast ; as yet, however, only five pieces have been finish- 
ed, namely, two semi-culverins, two of less size, and a 
serpentine ; besides which I have two sacres that I 
brought with me to this country, and another semi-culve- 
rin, which I purchased amongst the effects of the Ade- 
lantado Juan Ponce de Leon. By the ships that have 
already arrived, I shall receive thirty-five brass pieces, 
large and small, but all larger than a falconet ; and about 
seventy iron pieces, amongst which are lombards, pasa- 
volantes, versos, and other kinds of cannon made of 
strained iron. Thus, praised be our Lord, we shall be 
able to defend ourselves ; and in regard to munitions, 
God has been no less provident, for we have discovered 
saltpetre of a good quality, sufficient for our purposes ; 
and we have the requisite vessels in which to bake it, 
although much has been wasted in the first attempts that 
were made. As for sulphur, I have already made 

* Humboldt quotes this passage, which he terms " the remarkable passage in 
which Cortes speaks of tin as money," (le passage remarquable dans lequel Cor- 
tes parle de I' etain commemonnoie.) — Nouv. Esp. 486. 4to. ed, 

53 



414 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

mention to your Majesty of a mountain in this province, 
from which much smoke issues ; out of it sulphur has 
been taken by a Spaniard, who descended seventy or 
eighty fathoms by means of a rope attached to his body 
below his arms ;* from which source we have so far been 
enabled to obtain sufficient supplies, although as it is at- 
tended with danger, it is hoped that it will not be neces- 
sary for us to resort to this means of procuring it. I have 
constantly written to Spain for supplies, and your Ma- 
jesty has been pleased that there should be no bishoj) to 
prevent our receiving them. 

After having settled the town of Santistevan on the 
river Panuco, completed the conquest of the province of 
Tututepeque, and despatched a captain to Impilcingo 
and Coliman, as I have mentioned in a preceding section 
of this despatch, I proceeded, before returning to. this 
city, to the towns of Vera Cruz and Medellin, in order 
to visit them, and make such arrangements in regard 
to those ports as circumstances seemed to require. When 
I found that, on account of there being no Spanish set- 
tlement nearer the port of San Juan de Chalchiqueca 
than the town of Vera Cruz, ships went to the latter 
place to discharge their cargoes, and that many of them 
were lost in consequence of the insecurity of the harbor, 
which was exposed to the violence of the northers that 
prevail on that coast, I went to the port of San Juan to 
seek a suitable site for a town. Although at the time of 
my first arrival there diligent search was made, in which 

* This Spaniard was Francisco Montaiio, as appears from a patent of Charles 
V. which I have seen, and in which the fact is stated. Indeed, it is now settled 
beyond dispute, that Diego Ordas was the first to explore around the volcano, 
and that afterwards Montanos and others returned and extracted sulphur from it 
for making powder, which no one has since succeeded in doing. L. — See also 
ijumboldt. Nouv. Esp. 673, 4to. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 415 

I was employed for several days, it proved fruitless 
on account of the hills of sand that shifted their posi- 
tion every little while, and overspread the country.* 
It pleased our Lord, however, that at the present time, 
two leagues from that port, a very good site was found, 
comprising all the requisite qualities for a town, as it 
contained much wood, water and pasturage, except that 
there was no stone suitable for building within a con- 
venient distance. Not far from this place a lake was 
discovered, which I caused to be explored with a canoe 
to ascertain whether it communicated with the sea, or 
whether boats could come up by means of it to the pro- 
posed town. I found that a river flowed from this lake 
into the sea, and that at the mouth of the river there was 
a fathom of water and more ; so that by clearing out the 
lake, which was much obstructed with trees, boats could 
come up and discharge at the very houses of the town. 
Seeing the conveniences of the situation, and the neces- 
sity of some change for the benefit of the shipping, I 
caused the town of Medellin, which was twenty leagues 
inland, in the province of Tatalptetelco, to be transferred 
to it ; and accordingly nearly the whole of its population 
have already removed and built their houses at that 
place. Orders have been given for clearing out the lake, 
and establishing a board of trade ; and although there 
will be some delay in discharging the ships, on account 
of the necessity for ascending with boats the distance of 
two leagues to the lake, the shipping will be secure 
from all danger. I consider it certain that this town 

* The present city of Vera Cruz is built on the ground adjudged by Cortes as 
unsuitable for a town. Humboldt, in describing it, mentions the hills of moving 
sand ((fes collines de sable mouvant) around the city, which he says change their 
form and situation every year, and contribute very much to increase the suffo-- 
eating heat of the air in the city. — Nouv. Esp. 277, 4to. ed. 



416 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

must be next to the capital the most flourishing in 
New Spain ; for already several ships have discharged 
there, boats and even brigantines having gone up laden 
with goods to the very houses of the town. I shall 
direct my attention particularly to this point, to have 
vessels discharged without difficulty, and in the mean 
time, as the harbor is a good one, they will be entirely 
safe. Great expedition has been used also in constructing 
roads from thence to this city, that the transportation of 
goods may be facilitated by having a better road, and 
shortening the distance. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. ilT 



CHAPTER VI. 

I HAVE already mentioned to your Excellency the 
places to which I have sent people, both by land and 
sea, by whom under the guidance of our Lord your 
Majesty has been well served ; and I am continually on 
the watch and occupying myself with the thought, how 
I can best carry into execution and accomplish the desire 
I have to promote the service of your Majesty. Nothing 
seems to remain but to explore the coast lying between 
the river Panuco and Florida, the latter being the coun- 
try discovered by the Adelantado Juan Ponce de Leon ; 
and then the northern coast of Florida as far as the Bacal- 
laos ;* because it is considered certain that there is a 
strait on that coast which leads into the South Sea. If 
this should be found, it appears to me that it will come 
out near the archipelago, which Magallanes by order of 
your Highness has discovered, according to a chart I 
have, showing its situation. In that case the navigation 
from the Spice islands to these dominions of your Majesty 
will be rendered favorable and short, so much so that 
the distance will be two thirds less than at present ; and 
there will be no risk or danger to ships going and return- 
ing, because their course will always lie within the 
dominions of your Majesty, and whenever there is a 
necessity for repairs, they can seek a harbor at any 
point of the voyage in the territories of your Highness. 

* That is, the entire coast of the present United States and British America 
to Newfoundland, then almost wholly unexplored. 



418 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

Considering the great advantages that will result to your 
Majesty from this enterprise, although I have incurred 
great expenses, and am harassed by the extent of my 
debts, contracted in fitting out expeditions by sea and 
land, and procuring ammunition and cannon for this city 
and various other places to which they are sent by me, 
and additional sources of expense are constantly occur- 
ring, every thing being done at my own charge ; and 
whatever is wanted is so excessively dear, that notwith- 
standing the country is rich, the interest I have in it is 
inadequate to the great expenditure required — yet after 
all, from a regard to the considerations already suggested, 
and making every obstacle that presents itself yield to 
necessity, I have determined to send three caravels and 
two brigantines to accomplish this object, although I as- 
sure your Majesty, I shall have to borrow money to ena- 
ble me to do it. The enterprise will cost me more than 
10,000 pesos of gold ; but if the strait is discovered, it 
will be of more signal advantage to your Majesty than 
any thing I have yet achieved ; and if that discovery is 
not made, it is possible that others will be, of rich and 
widely spread lands, tending to promote the interests of 
your Majesty, and greatly enlarging the number of realms 
and seignories already subject to your royal crown. It 
will also be useful to know that such a strait does not 
exist, so that attention maybe paid to devising means for 
securing the greatest possible benefit from the spice- 
countries, and others in their neighborhood ; an object 
for the accomplishment of which I offer my services to 
your Highness, should you be pleased to command them ; 
so that without the strait I shall cause your Majesty's af- 
fairs to be greatly advanced, and at a diminished expense. 
But may it please our Lord to crown this enterprise with 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 419 

success by the discovery of the strait ! A consumma- 
tion the most desirable, and in which I have the greatest 
confidence, since nothing can be denied to the good for- 
tune of your Majesty, and on my part no efforts, atten- 
tion, or zeal will be spared in the undertaking. 

I also propose to get ready the ships I have had built 
on the South Sea, so that if it please our Lord, they may 
sail at the expiration of the month of July, in this year, 
1524, on a voyage down the coast in quest of the same 
strait ; since if it exists, it must be discovered by those 
on the South Sea, as well as the others on the North Sea, 
for the former will run along the coast until they either 
find the strait, or reach the land discovered by Magal- 
lanes ; and the latter will proceed to the north, as I have 
stated, until they arrive at the Bacallaos. Thus on the 
one side or the other, I shall not fail to ascertain the truth. 
I assure your Majesty, that according to the information 
I have of the lands situated on the upper coasts of 
the South Sea, it would be of great service to my- 
self, and likewise to your Majesty, to send these 
ships in that direction ; but being well aware of the 
great desire of your Majesty to know concerning the sup- 
posed strait, and of the great advantage the crown 
would derive from its discovery, I have laid aside all 
other schemes more obviously tending to promote my 
interests in order to pursue this object alone : May our 
Lord so guide me, that his service may be advanced and 
the desires of your Majesty accomplished, while at the 
same time my own wishes of rendering good service are 
gratified. 

The commissioners sent by your Majesty to take an 
account of the royal revenue and domain have arrived, 
and commenced the examination of the returns made by 



420 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

the officers who previously had charge of this business, 
having been designated by me for this purpose in the 
name of your Highness. But since these commissioners 
will render a statement of the care that has been exer- 
cised in all these matters, I shall not stop to do more 
than submit to your Majesty's judgment on their re- 
port, which I trust will exhibit evidence of the solici- 
tude and zeal that I have ever manifested in whatever 
relates to the royal service ; for although the occupations 
of war and the reduction of this land have employed me 
to an extent of which the results may serve to convey 
some idea, I have not on that account forgotten to take 
especial care in collecting and securing the greatest pos- 
sible amount of revenue to your Majesty. As by the ac- 
count which the commissioners transmit to your imperial 
Majesty, it appears that I have expended of the royal 
income about sixty-two thousand pesos of gold, in mat- 
ters connected with the pacification of these parts and 
the extension of your Majesty's dominions, it is proper 
your Highness should know that it could not have been 
otherwise ; for when I began to draw upon those revenues, 
I had nothing left of my own, and was even indebted 
more than thirty thousand pesos of gold, that I had bor- 
rowed of several persons ; so that I was compelled to re- 
sort to that source in order to provide what the royal 
service necessarily demanded, as well as my own wants. 
But I doubt not that the proceeds resulting from this ex- 
penditure will yield a profit of more than one thousand 
per centum.* Since the commissioners have not credited 
me with the service rendered, because they say their 

* "Rather," says Lorenzana, "millions upon millions for one" when all the 
wealth that has flowed into Spain from the acquisitions of Cortes is taken into 
consideration. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 421 

powers do not authorize it, I beg your Majesty to have 
the amount refunded to me where it has been properly 
expended, as well as about fifty thousand pesos of gold 
besides, which 1 have taken from my own means, or 
borrowed from my friends ; for if this is not done, I shall 
be unable to reimburse the borrowed money, and be left 
in grea want. This I do not think your Catholic Majesty 
will permit, but rather besides causing me to be repaid 
bestow on me a liberal recompense ; since my services 
rendered to your Highness, a Prince so catholic and 
Christian, are not undeserving of reward, to which their 
results bear testimony. 

By the commissioners, and the other persons who came 
with them, as well as by letters I have received from 
those realms, I have learned that the articles which I 
transmitted to your imperial Majesty by the hands of 
Antonio de Quinones and Alonso de Avila, the deputies 
from this New Spain, did not reach the royal presence, 
having been captured by the French in consequence of 
the little care taken by the board of trade at Seville in 
convoying them from the islands of the Azores. But not- 
withstanding I have been much grieved at the loss of all 
those rich and wonderful things, which I greatly desired 
your Majesty might see, and which besides being an ex- 
pression of my homage to your Highness, rendered my 
own services more manifest : I am yet pleased that they 
were sent, for the loss will be a slight one to your Majesty, 
and I shallexert myself to obtain others much richer and 
more wonderful, when I receive advices from provinces 
for whose conquest I have despatched forces, and others 
to which I shall soon send, having men in readiness for 
that purpose ; while the French and other princes to whom 
those things may become known, will by this means 

54 



422 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

discover the reason that these countries are deemed worthy 
being brought under the imperial crown of your Majesty ; 
since, besides the numerous and powerful realms and seig- 
nories which your Highness possesses in those parts, so re- 
mote and distant from these, I, the least of your subjects, 
am yet able to render such important services. As an 
earnest of my future offering, I now send by my servant, 
Diego de Soto, a few small articles, which before were 
left behind, being in an unfinished state, as unworthy to 
accompany the others ; and some that I have since had 
completed, which also were left unfinished, but now bear 
some resemblance to the others. I also send a culverin 
of silver, composed of twenty-four quintales and two 
arrobas* in weight, though with some loss, as it was twice 
fused. It was very costly ; since besides the value of 
the silver, amounting to twenty-four thousand five hun- 
dred pesos of gold, at the rate of five pesos of gold to the 
marc, the other expenses of founders, engravers, and of its 
transportation to the port, exceeded three thousand pesos 
of gold ; but I spared no labor or expense to render it in 
point of richness and beauty worthy of being presented 
to so exalted and excellent a prince ; I therefore beg your 
imperial Majesty to accept this slight expression of hom- 
age, as a testimony of my disposition to render your High- 
ness the greatest services in ray power.t Although in- 
volved in debt, as I have already mentioned, I did not 
hesitate to incur a still greater indebtedness, in order that 



*Two thousand four hundred and fifty pounds, or about 30,000 Spanish dollars 
in value. 

t According to Gomara, this silver cannon made a great noise in Spain, and 
together with 60,000 castellanos, sent at the same time, was the best argument 
Cortes could offer against the malice of his enemies, who were endeavoring to 
deprive him of the emperor's favor. 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 483 

your Mnjesty might learn the desire I have to' promote 
your service ; for I have been so unfortunate heretofore 
as to encounter great opposition in the presence of your 
Highness, which has prevented this desire of mine from 
being made known. 

I also transmit to your sacred Majesty 60,000 pesos 
of gold, which has accrued from your royal revenues, as 
your Majesty will see by the account that your commis- 
sioners and I send ; and we have had the confidence to 
forward so large a sum at one time both on account of 
the necessity experienced by your Majesty, growing out 
of the wars and other things, and because your Majesty 
has received but little as yet, in consequence of the 
former loss. Hereafter arrangements will be made to 
send every time as great an amount as possible ; and 
your sacred Majesty may be assured, that as things are 
now tending, and the number of kingdoms and seignories 
of your Highness in these parts increase, the revenues 
will be more safely received, and with less expense ; 
for until now there has been no one of all the kingdoms 
and seignories that did not offer some difficulties and 
embarrassments. I say this, because only two days 
since Gonzalo de Salazar, factor of your Highness, 
arrived at the port of San Juan, in this New Spain, from 
whom I have learned that in the island, of Cuba from 
whence he came they informed him that Diego Velas- 
quez, lieutenant of the admiral, had held a consultation 
with the captain Christobal Dolid, whom I had sent to 
establish a colony in Hibueras, [Honduras,] in the name 
of your Majesty ; and that they had agreed to excite an 
insurrection in the country in favor of Diego Velasquez. 
When I considered the wickedness of the attempt, and 
its injurious effect upon the service of your Majesty, I 



224 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

was unable to credit it ; although, on the other hand, 
recollecting the artifices by means of which Diego Ve- 
lasquez has always sought to injure and embarrass me, 
even, when he could do nothing else, laboring to prevent 
people from coming into these parts — I was induced to 
believe it to be true. As he rules that island, he seizes 
upon those who go there from this country, oppresses 
them in various ways, and deprives them of much of 
what they carry with them ; after being subjected to a 
sort of trial, they do and say whatever he requires of 
them, in order to get out of his power. I shall inform 
myself of the truth of this matter, and if I find it to be 
as represented, I propose to send for Diego Velasquez, 
place him under arrest, and have him carried a prisoner 
to your Majesty ; since by striking at this man, who is 
the root of all these evils, the branches will wither, and 
I shall be able with greater freedom to complete the ser- 
vices I have begun, or think of undertaking. 

Every time I have written to your sacred Majesty, I 
have mentioned to your Highness the disposition that 
exists in some of the natives of these parts to embrace 
our holy catholic faith and become Christians; and I 
have begged your imperial Majesty to direct that reli- 
gious persons of good life and example be provided. As 
very few, or almost none, have yet come, and it is cer- 
tain that they would gather much fruit from their labors, 
I again call the attention of your Highness to the subject, 
and beg you to make this provision with all speed ; for 
by this means God our Lord will be greatly served, and 
the desire of your Highness in this case as a good Catho- 
lic fulfilled. By the deputies, Antonio de Quinones and 
Alonso Davila, the councils of the towns of New Spain 
and myself did send to supplicate your Majesty to supply 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 425 

bishops and other prelates for the administration of the 
offices of the church and divine worship, and such was 
the view I then entertained of the course best to be 
pursued ; but having well considered this matter, it 
now appears to me that your sacred Majesty may in a 
different manner provide for the more easy conversion 
of the natives of this country, and their instruction in 
the principles of our holy faith. The plan I would re- 
commend is, that a number of religious persons, (or 
priests,) as I have already mentioned, zealous for the 
conversion of this people, should come out, for whom 
houses and monasteries should be erected in the pro- 
vinces wherever it may seem proper ; and that tithes be 
assigned them to defray the expense of building their 
houses, and for their support, the surplus to be applied 
to the erection and ornamenting of the churches in the 
villages where the Spaniards reside, as well as to maintain 
the clergy who officiate in them. Officers appointed by 
your Majesty should collect and keep an account of the 
tithes, and with them supply the monasteries and churches ; 
for which purpose they will be more than sufficient, 
and a balance left for the disposition of your Majesty. 
Let your Majesty petition his Holiness [the Pope] 
to grant you the tenths of these parts for this purpose, 
giving him to understand the service rendered to God 
our Lord by the conversion of this people, which can be 
accomplished in no other way ; for if bishops and other 
prelates are sent, they will follow the custom practised 
by them for our sins at the present day, by disposing of 
the estates of the church, and expending them in pageants 
and other foolish matters, and bestowing rights of inheri- 
tance on their sons or relatives. A still greater evil 
would result from this state of things ; the natives of this 



426 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

country formerly had their priests, who were engaged in 
conducting the rites and ceremonies of their religion ; 
and so strict were they in the practice of honesty and 
chastity, that any deviation therefrom was punished with 
death ; now if they saw that the affairs of the church and 
what related to the service of God were entrusted to 
canons and other dignitaries, and if they understood that 
these were the ministers of God, whom they beheld in- 
dulging in vicious habits and profaneness, as is the case 
in these days in Spain, it would lead them to undervalue 
our faith and treat it with derision, and all the preaching 
in the world would not be able to counteract the mis- 
chief arising from this source. 

As the conversion of this people is, and ought to be, 
the principal object of your Majesty, which we likewise 
who reside here ought as Christians to keep in view, and 
sedulously endeavor to promote, I have sought to coun- 
sel your imperial Majesty in regard to this matter, and to 
express my opinion respecting it ; which I beg your High- 
ness to receive as proceeding from one of your subjects 
and vassals, who exerts, and will still continue to exert, 
his strength in extending the realms and seignories of 
your Majesty throughout this land, and in making known 
your royal fame and great power amongst these nations ; 
and who at the same time desires, and will labor with 
all his soul, to induce your Highness to command the pro- 
pagation of our holy faith, as the means of securing hap- 
piness in eternal life. As for the purpose of establishing 
orders, consecrating churches, their decorations, holy oil, 
&c. in the absence of a bishop, it would be inconvenient 
to send abroad to obtain the proper means, your Majesty 
should likewise petition his Holiness to delegate this 



CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 427 

power, and appoint two principals of religious orders to 
come to this country'', one of the order of St. Francis, and 
the other of the order of St. Domingo ; who should also 
have the most ample powers that your Majesty can grant. 
These lands are so far removed from the seat of the 
Romish church, and Christians who do or hereafter shall 
reside on them, are at so great a distance from spiritual 
consolations, and at the same time so much exposed to 
sinful practices, that it becomes absolutely necessary his 
Holiness should extend the religious ordinances to us by 
conferring extraordinary powers on these persons, which 
may be transmitted by them to others dwelling in these 
parts, whether it be to a General over all the orders, or 
to a Provincial of each of them. 

The tenths in this country are farmed out to certain 
towns, although some are sold to the highest bidder ; they 
commence from the year 1523, before which period, as it 
seemed to me, they were of too small amount to be im- 
posed. Indeed, those who possessed any estates prior 
to that time, as the war then prevailed, expended more in 
their defence than the amount of benefit derived from 
their products. Nevertheless, if your Majesty please to 
direct a different course, whatever most tends to promote 
your service shall be done. The tenths of this city for 
the year 1523, and the present year, 1524, have been 
adjudged to be of the value of 5,550 pesos of gold ; and 
those of the towns of Medellin and Vera Cruz are esti- 
mated at 1000 pesos of gold ; but the latter have not 
been sold, and I think will exceed that amount. I am 
not aware that those of the other towns have been ad- 
judged, as they are so remote that I have had no accounts 
from them. This money will be expende'd in erecting 



428 LETTERS OP CORTES. 

churches,* paying the curates and sacristans, and in pro- 
viding decorations and other things required for the 
churches ; and an account of the whole will be taken by 
the auditor and treasurer of your Majesty. The trea- 
surer will receive the money, more of which will be paid 
out without an order from the auditor and myself V 

I have been informed, most Catholic Sire, by persons 
who have lately arrived from the islands, that your Ma- 
jesty's judges and officers of the island of Espanola 
have made proclamation in that and all the other islands, 
of an ordinance prohibiting the exportation to New Spain 
of any mares or other breeding animals, under pain of 
death ; which has been done in order to compel us to 
purchase our cattle and beasts of burthen on the islands, 
where they are sold at an exorbitant price. This is 
manifestly wrong and injurious to your Majesty's service, 
by throwing obstacles in the way of setthng and civiliz- 
ing this country ; and the islanders well know that they 
are depriving us of the means of sustaining what we 
have acquired, and of extending our conquests, notwith- 
standing the substantial benefits the islands have received 
from this New Spain, and the little use they have for 
what they deny us the liberty of exporting. I therefore 
entreat your Highness to issue your royal order to these 
islands, requiring them to permit all persons to export 
whatever they please without any penalty or restriction ; 
since besides its occasioning no loss to them, it would 
prove of serious disadvantage to your Majesty's interests, 

* The appropriation for this purpose was accordingly made, and from the time 
of Cortes a number of fine edifices have been preserved in good condition ; as, 
for example, those of Tepozthan, Ayacapistla, Tula, Mestitlam, Molango, Cuer- 
nabaca, Oculman, &c., which are adorned with the paintings of distinguished 
masters. — L. 



-/ 



CONgUEST OF MEXICO. 429 

if we are unable on account of their prohibition to sus- 
tain our acquisitions, or to extend them. I might have 
retaliated in such a manner as would have made them 
desirous of recalling their orders and proclamations ; for 
by also prohibiting the importation from the islands of 
any thing except what they had refused us permission to 
export from thence, they would have been glad to allow 
us to bring the prohibited articles in order to have the 
liberty of supplying us with others ; since their chief de- 
pendence is on their trade with this country, the inhabi- 
tants of the islands, who before it commenced had not 
altogether a thousand pesos of gold, having now more 
than they for a long time possessed. But in order to 
prevent the evil disposed from wagging their tongues, 
{estender S7is lenguas,) I have dissembled my feelings, until 
a statement could be made to your Majesty, and such 
orders promulgated by your Highness as the royal service 
requires. 

I have also informed your imperial Majesty of the ne- 
cessity of introducing plants of all kinds into this country, 
and of the natural adaptation of the soil to every species 
of agriculture ; but as no attention has hitherto been paid 
to this matter, I renew my request to your Majesty, from 
its future importance to the public interests, that orders 
may be sent to the board of trade at Seville for every 
ship to take a certain number of plants, and none to sail 
without them, as the introduction of them will contribute 
greatly to the settlement and permanent advantage of 
the country. 

As it is incumbent on me to regulate the condition of 
the country in the best possible manner, both to promote 
its colonization, and to preserve and perpetuate the 
Spanish and native settlements, as well as to plant 

55 



430 LETTERS OF CORTES. 

deeply our holy faith throughout the land over which 
your Majesty has been pleased to give me authority as 
a reward for my labors, and God our Lord to make me 
the means of spreading a knowledge of himself, besides 
reducing it beneath the imperial yoke of your Highness — 
I have established certain ordinances, and ordered them 
to be proclaimed ; but as I have sent copies of them to 
your Majesty, I shall only say further that so far as my 
experience has gone, it is extremely desirable these ordi- 
nances should be obeyed. Nevertheless, the Spaniards 
who reside here are dissatisfied with some of them, 
especially those that oblige them to fix their abode in 
the country ; since all or most of them intend to do here 
as they have done in the islands, where they were pre- 
viously settled, that is, to impoverish and destroy the 
country and then abandon it. But it appears to me that 
it would be inexcusable in us who have had experience 
of the past not to provide a remedy for the present and 
the future, guarding against those abuses that have led 
most manifestly to the loss of the islands, especially 
since this country, as I have often written to your Ma- 
jesty, is of surprising extent and richness, and affords in 
so ample a manner the means of promoting the service 
of God our Lord, and increasing the revenues of your 
Majesty. I therefore beg your Majesty to direct an ex- 
amination to be made of these ordinances, and to make 
such further regulations as may better subserve the inte- 
rests of your Highness, enjoining a strict compliance 
with both the one and the other. In the mean time I 
shall not fail to make such additions to them as may 
appear to me requisite and proper ; since on account of 
the extent and diversity of the lands which are daily 
discovered, and the many important matters constantly 



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CONQUEST OF MEXICO. 431 

brought to light, it becomes necessary to form new plans, 
and adopt new councils ; and if any of these I now 
communicate to your Majesty, or shall hereafter com- 
municate, appear to conflict with former ones, your Ex- 
cellency will consider that a change of circumstances 
has led to a change of opinion as to the expediency of 
measures. 

Most invincible Caesar, may God our Lord protect the 
imperial person of your Majesty, and in his holy pleasure 
prosper and preserve you for many years, granting acces- 
sions of greater realms and seignories, and all else that 
your Highness may desire. From the great city of 
Temixtitan of this New Spain, the fifteenth day of Oc- 
tober, one thousand five hundred and twenty-four.* 

Your Sacred Majesty's very humble servant and 
subject, who kisses the royal feet and hands of your 
Majesty. 

HERNANDO CORTES. 



* The conquest took place in 1521, and in three years after, Cortes, in this 
despatch, speaks as if fifty years of wise government had elapsed. I shall ever 
reverence Cortes, and respect his name as that of a civil, military, and religious 
hero, unexampled in his career ; a subject who bore the freaks of fortune with 
fortitude and constancy ; and a man destined by God to add to the possessions 
of the Catholic Iting a new and larger world. — L, 



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